You might look at hot baths and saunas as a luxurious spa treatment. But it’s so much more than diva treatment. In fact, research shows that hot baths and saunas are actually very good for your heart health. What’s more, taking a dip might even help to lower dementia. So, keep reading to learn how you can benefit from a hot baths or saunas.
This 2016 study found that over an eight-week time period, hot baths can help lower blood pressure in young adults, and even increase the flexibility of the arteries.
When it came to saunas, Finnish researchers published a study in the American Journal of Hypertension. Here, they observed how saunas impact blood pressure over the course of 25 years.
They discovered that of the more than 1,600 middle-aged male participants, those who went to the sauna two to three times a week, were 24% less likely to develop high blood pressure.
If you visited the sauna four to seven times each week, there was a 46% reduction in developing hypertension.
Along with supporting the cardiovascular system, saunas also benefit brain health, too. For example, in this study which observed more than 2,300 men over a six-year time period, there was a lowered risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Therefore, it seems that hot baths and saunas can naturally lower blood pressure, and even help to protect our minds, too. Consider visiting a hot bath or sauna once a week (or more) to support healthy heart and mind.
