Frequent sauna use reduces the risk of psychosis

We hear only good things about using the sauna

When we ask people about their sauna experiences, we usually hear only positive opinions. Sauna baths have a positive effect on overall health, improving the functioning of the heart, muscles and skin. They also help eliminate toxins from the body and allow you to relax after long workouts or in everyday life.

But it turns out that saunas have another, less known advantage. New research shows that there is a relationship between frequent use of the sauna, a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness and the risk of developing psychotic disorders.

They found sauna lovers (no surprises) in Finland

Scientists from the University of Leicester published a study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research that shows a potential link between frequent sauna use and higher cardiorespiratory fitness and psychotic disorders.

The study involved over 2,600 men aged 42 to 61 from Finland. It has been established that sauna use 3-7 times a week combined with higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) reduces the risk of psychotic episodes.

Psychotic disorders are serious mental health conditions in which patients may experience hallucinations or delusions. Hallucinations are situations where people see or hear things that are not there, while delusions are strong beliefs that are not based in reality. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are examples of psychotic disorders. These disorders often require long, specialized care. Hence, scientists are researching proactively to counteract such episodes.

It's worth adding sports, but the sauna itself works wonders

The men in the study were followed for more than 25 years, with initial evaluations beginning in the mid-1980s. Scientists analyzed sauna use habits and the cardiorespiratory fitness of participants, and also tracked the occurrence of psychotic disorders in the study group.

The lowest risk of psychosis was recorded in people who were also in good physical condition. But even men who frequently used the sauna but were in poor physical condition were 74% less likely to develop psychosis.