Soaking in a Hot Bath is Even Better Than Being in a Sauna
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
Saunas are popular for our health because the increased ambient heat triggers a cascade of positive effects in the body that can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. But, most people don't have access to a sauna...
Obviously, things are different in Scandinavia where saunas are everywhere and having a regular sauna is built into these northern cultures. There has been lots of research into the health benefits of saunas (and there are many) but the good news is, thanks to researchers from the University of Oregon - after comparing the effects of saunas to an indulgent hot soak in a bath - found that a hot bath was more beneficial than a sauna. “We saw that hot water immersion was the most impactful in increasing core body temperature, which is the main stimulus for these subsequent responses,” lead author Jessica Atencio told the University of Oregon press.
In the study, researchers monitored body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output (the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute), immune cell populations, and blood biomarkers of inflammation. Data was collected before, during and after subjects soaked in a hot tub, sat in dry heat, or tried far-infrared saunas.
The research was published in the American Journal of Physiology and the authors say it was the first time that three different heat therapies were compared.
“Hot water immersion gives you the most robust changes in core temperature because you can’t effectively dissipate heat as you can if you have contact with the air and you’re sweating to cool the body,” Atencio said. “When you’re submerged in water, the sweat mechanisms aren’t efficient.”
Both saunas and hot tubs can replicate some of the benefits of exercise by increasing heart rate - but soaking in tubs, can create the effect more quickly and efficiently.
