Sauna - 5 benefits confirmed by research

You've probably felt that rush of well-being after a visit to the sauna, too: a lighter body, calmer thoughts, reduced stress levels and deeper sleep. Over the past decades, there has been a lot of scientific research that supports the benefits of sauna for the body - not only does a visit to the sauna have a one-off health benefit (which is only felt when you leave the sauna), but it also has a significant impact on our wellbeing in the long term.

„Palanga Visit Apartamentuose“ sukūrėme privačią SPA zoną su pirtimi ne tik dėl jaukumo ar pramogos – tikime, kad tikras poilsis yra tuomet, kai visapusiškai pasirūpinama kūnu. Ir šiandien mokslas tai patvirtina.

While any sauna in Palanga will give you a certain sense of relaxation, the full benefits for your body come from two important aspects: the tranquillity of the environment and hygiene. Think these are less important details? They affect how deeply the body will relax.

For a sauna to work as a stress-reduction tool, the brain needs to reach a complete state of safety. In a public sauna, the bustle of strangers talking or doors slamming is a distraction.In a private space, free from the bustle of bystanders, the body is more likely to go into parasympathetic mode, which is when deep recovery happens.

It goes hand in hand with getting healthy. In public places, water is disinfected with chlorine, which can irritate the skin or respiratory tract. The solution that is considered to be the highest standard is to change the water regularly without chemical additives. This allows you to enjoy cleanliness and naturalness, which is essential for wellness.

Pirtyje Jūsų širdis pradeda plakti greičiau — panašiai kaip lengvo pasivaikščiojimo metu. Kraujagyslės išsiplečia, kraujas cirkuliuoja laisviau. Lankantis pirtyje reguliariai, širdis ir kraujagyslės „treniruojamos“ – tai gerina kraujagyslių elastingumą ir mažina kraujo spaudimą. Tad apsilankymas pirtyje yra kaip švelni, ne per intensyvi treniruotė.

The heat of the sauna causes blood vessels to dilate. This acts as a natural regulator of blood pressure. Studies have confirmed that passive body warming increases the production of nitric oxide—a molecule that naturally dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Simply put: the sauna helps blood flow more freely and makes it easier for the heart to work.

When the body heats up, it triggers a kind of defence mechanism - it produces special proteins that help cells regenerate. These proteins essentially improve the heart's ability to withstand stress and prevent cell ageing. It's like a kind of body repair procedure that happens every time you visit a sauna.

It's not just relaxation that makes people feel calmer after a sauna. The heat stimulates the release of brain chemicals responsible for a better mood and less stress. Research shows that regular sauna use can reduce systemic inflammation in the body - one of the main causes of chronic stress and fatigue. The result is that it is easier to fall asleep at night and get up in the morning.

This is one of the most frequently mentioned changes among people who regularly visit the sauna. After a sauna, the body temperature gradually drops - and it is this drop that signals to the brain that it is time to sleep. Sleep after a sauna is deeper and more restorative than usual.

Per pastaruosius 20 metų buvo atlikta iš tiesų daug tyrimų šiuo klausimu – daugiausia mokslinių tyrimų atliko suomiai. Jie stebėjo tūkstančius žmonių — kokios sveikatos, įpročių, amžiaus žmonės lankosi pirtyse, kaip dažnai tai daro ir kokia jų sveikata ilguoju laikotarpiu. Rezultatai įdomūs ir stebinantys – kelis dešimtmečius trunkantys tyrimai leido pastebėti, kad pirties nauda ne „vienkartinė“.

Long-term studies have shown that people who visit the sauna more frequently were statistically less likely to suffer from heart disease and lived longer—even if they had unhealthy habits or other factors affecting their health (such as being overweight, smoking, or low physical activity). These findings were summarized by researchers Jari Laukkanen and Setor Kunutsor from the University of Eastern Finland In the 2024 issue Temperature in the published review.

Studies also showed a clear trend: the more often people visited the sauna, the better their health indicators were—but only up to a certain point. In Finland, men who went to the sauna 4–7 times a week were less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who went once a week; visits more frequent than daily were not studied. Why? One theory is that the body learns. Each sauna session is like a workout—the heart, blood vessels, and cellular renewal mechanisms respond better, faster, and more effectively with each session. Just as regular walking provides more benefits than a one-time walk, so too does regular sauna use offer greater benefits.

Studies link, that the greatest health benefits with the least risk to health are achieved by visiting a sauna 4 times a week for at least 20 minutes at 80 °C. Of course, even less frequent visits have health benefits: better blood circulation and sleep quality, boosted immunity, reduced stress, better skin condition.

Important: This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for a doctor’s consultation. People with health conditions or pregnant women should consult a doctor before visiting a sauna.

„Palanga Visit Apartamentuose“ sukūrėme privačią SPA zoną – tam, kad pirtyje atsipalaiduotumėte be pašalinių šurmulio, skirtumėte laiko sau ir netrukdomi take time for this wellness ritual. No queues, no rush and complete privacy - sauna in Palanga and time reserved just for you.