Impact of sauna bathing on general health - the latest reports

Sauna bathing is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. This activity is traditional to Finnish culture, as well as being widely used in other countries, especially Scandinavian ones. Today, there are different types of sauna, including, for example, the traditional Finnish sauna, Turkish Hammam and the Russian Banya. The aim of this review is to analyse the impact of sauna bathing on various health-related aspects of human life. Many studies show the positive effects of saunas on human health. Regarding the cardiovascular system, sauna bathing causes a decrease in: the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, the risk of sudden cardiac death, blood pressure, among others. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness, causes changes in cardiovascular biomarkers, and may reduce the risk of thromboembolic disease and stroke. The positive effect of sauna bathing on the respiratory system is due to the fact that sauna can reduce the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia. In addition, sauna has a beneficial effect on the immune system through makers of inflammation. Moreover, sauna has a positive effect on the nervous system, as it reduces the risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and psychosis. Recent studies from 2017 indicate that sauna bathing has many health benefits and has positive effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, nervous systems. However, despite the many benefits of sauna use, one must exercise caution and follow safety precautions. More research is needed to confirm all these relationships.