Dr. Jari Laukkanen Finnish Traditional Sauna Study Explained

In April 2015, one of the most well documented and widely referenced sauna health benefits study was released to the public. The study was based on middle aged men in Eastern Finland and the baseline study was the use of sauna. Measured were the amount of sauna usage per week, how long the sauna was utilized for and the sauna temperature.

All information below in reference to the study can be found on the studies published findings, here.

Before we dive into the study findings, there are a few facts that should be noted. 

• Fact #1: The study was performed over a 20 year period.
• Fact #2: The study was performed using the traditional Finnish sauna, not using infrared saunas.
• Fact #3: in Finland, where the study was performed, the control group was men who only used the sauna one time per week.
• Fact #4: Dr. Laukkanen’s study was performed on 2,315 men in Eastern Finland, aged 42 to 60 years.
• Fact #5: Baseline examinations were conducted from March 1, 1984, through December 31, 1989
• Fact #6: The findings were established during a median follow-up of 20.7 years (interquartile range, 18.1-22.6 years)
• Fact #7: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
• Fact #8: Study participants were a randomly selected sample of 3433 men aged 42 to 60 years who resided in Kuopio, Finland, or its surrounding rural communities.
• Fact #9: Of those invited, 2682 (78.1%) participated in the study, and those with complete information on sauna bathing were included (N = 2327). 12 men who did not use a sauna were excluded, leaving 2,315 men for the study.
• Fact #10: Sauna bathing was assessed by a self-administrated questionnaire based on weekly sauna bathing sessions, duration, and temperature, which “represents typical sauna use”

A note on Fact #2 (the study was performed using the traditional Finnish sauna): the study indicates that “Our results of hot Finnish sauna bathing with a mean temperature of 79°C (174° Farenheit) cannot be directly applied to steam rooms, hot tubs, and some other types of saunas, which may operate at lower temperatures than a typical Finnish sauna and do not allow pouring water on the rocks.”

The information on Dr. Laukkanen’s study is gleaned from the use of a traditional Finnish sauna. Not an infrared sauna, not a steam room, hot tub, or any other type of sauna. The study mentions that the typical Finnish sauna allows pouring water over the sauna heater rocks.

Key Findings of Finnish Sauna by Dr. Laukkanen Study

Key Findings:

1. Frequency of Sauna Use:
   • Men who used saunas 4–7 times a week had much lower risks of:
     • SCD: 63% lower risk compared to those using a sauna once a week.
     • CHD and CVD Mortality: 48% and 50% lower risks, respectively.
     • All-Cause Mortality: 40% lower risk.
   • Even using a sauna 2–3 times a week showed moderate reductions in risks.
2. Duration of Sauna Sessions:
   • Longer sessions (over 19 minutes) were linked to better outcomes:
     • SCD Risk: 52% lower compared to shorter sessions (<11 minutes).
     • Similar reductions were found for CHD and CVD mortality.
3. Mechanisms of Benefit:
   • Sauna bathing mimics moderate-intensity exercise, increasing heart rate and improving circulation.
   • It may lower blood pressure, enhance heart function, and improve overall cardiovascular health.

Directly from the study itself, are the purpose and conclusion. For those who may find the study hard to read, we have organized it’s findings into an easy to read table below.

The Purpose of the Study: “The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the association between exposure to sauna bathing and the risk of SCD, fatal coronary heart disease (CHD), fatal CVD, and all-cause mortality events in the general male population.”

Study Conclusion and Relevance: “Increased frequency of sauna bathing is associated with a reduced risk of SCD, CHD, CVD, and all-cause mortality. Further studies are warranted to establish the potential mechanism that links sauna bathing and cardiovascular health.”

Dr. Laukkanen Study Findings Table

Significant Reduction in All Cause Mortality

Dr. Laukkanen’s study found that the use of 4 to 7 times per week at a temperature of 174° for an average of 20 minutes per session was associated with a 40% reduction in all cause mortality compared to men who only used the sauna once per week. Additionally, as noted above, there was a 63% lower risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) as compared to those using sauna once a week. There were 48% and 50% lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), respectively.

The study found that even just 2-3 sauna sessions per week showed moderate reductions in risks.

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) Facts: 

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is an unexpected death resulting from a sudden loss of heart function, often occurring within minutes after symptoms appear. Here are some key facts about SCD:

1. Prevalence: In the United States, more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually, with approximately 60% to 80% of these cases resulting in death before reaching the hospital.
   CDC
2. Causes: The leading cause of SCD in individuals over 35 is coronary artery disease. In younger populations, inherited conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy are more prevalent causes.
   Cleveland Clinic
3. Symptoms: SCD often occurs without warning. When symptoms do present, they may include sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, and absence of pulse and breathing.
   Mayo Clinic
4. Risk Factors: Major risk factors include a history of heart disease, previous heart attacks, family history of SCD, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.
   MedicineNet
5. Survival Rates: The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is low, with only about 8% of individuals surviving. Immediate intervention with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation can significantly improve survival chances.
   Wikipedia
6. Prevention: Preventive measures include managing heart disease risk factors through lifestyle modifications such as maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, avoiding tobacco use, and controlling conditions like hypertension and diabetes. For high-risk individuals, medical interventions like implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) may be recommended.
   MedicineNet

Key Facts about Coronary Heart Disease:

1. Prevalence:
   • CHD is the most common type of heart disease.
     NHLBI, NIH
   • In 2022, CHD caused 371,506 deaths in the United States.
     CDC
2. Risk Factors:
   • High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of people in the United States (47%) have at least one of these three risk factors.
     CDC
   • Other contributing factors include diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and excessive alcohol use.
     CDC
3. Symptoms:
   • Chest pain or discomfort (angina) that may feel like pressure or squeezing.
   • Shortness of breath.
   • Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back.
   • Numbness, weakness, or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those areas are narrowed.
     nhs.uk
4. Prevention and Management:
   • Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle is crucial. This includes regular physical activity, a balanced diet low in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding tobacco smoke.
     nhs.uk
   • Managing existing health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes through medication and lifestyle changes is essential.
     nhs.uk
5. Economic Impact:
   • Between 2019 and 2020, heart disease cost about $252.2 billion in the United States. This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.
     CDC

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) Facts:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) encompasses a range of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure. Here are some key facts about CVD:

1. Leading Cause of Death Globally:
   • CVDs are the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 17.9 million deaths annually, accounting for 32% of all global deaths.
     World Health Organization (WHO)
2. Prevalence in the United States:
   • In 2021, cardiovascular disease was the underlying cause of 931,578 deaths in the U.S.
     www.heart.org
   • Nearly half of all U.S. adults have some form of cardiovascular disease.
     Cleveland Clinic
3. Risk Factors:
   • Major risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.
     CDC
4. Economic Impact:
   • Between 2017 and 2020, 127.9 million U.S. adults (48.6%) had some form of CVD.
     www.heart.org
5. Prevention:
   • Up to 80% of cardiovascular diseases are preventable through lifestyle modifications such as maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco use, and limiting alcohol consumption.
     Time

About the team behind the sauna health benefits study

The study was performed by Dr. Jari Laukkanen and a team of researchers from Finland. Finland is widely known as the birthplace of Sauna and interestingly enough, the study used a control group of folks who only used the sauna one time per week, not zero. As noted in the study facts from above, in the sample of participants, just 12 reported not using a sauna at all.

Dr. Jari Laukkanen, M.D., Ph.D., is a cardiologist and scientist at the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland.