--- title: Here's Why Saunas Are So Good For You description: A new research review looks at why sauna bathing is so healthy. Saunas are associated with better heart, lung and mental health. canonical: https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/ author: Jamie Ducharme article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-08-01T17:00:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T09:36:25.320Z article:section: Health og:title: The Case For Sauna Bathing Is Stronger Than Ever og:description: It's good for your heart, lungs and mood og:url: https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7dca29226ce11b2d/698936ce457a527447d5f026/finnish-sauna.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5737 og:image:height: 3227 og:image:alt: Interior of Finnish sauna, classic wooden sauna og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Case For Sauna Bathing Is Stronger Than Ever twitter:description: It's good for your heart, lungs and mood twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7dca29226ce11b2d/698936ce457a527447d5f026/finnish-sauna.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Case For Sauna Bathing Is Stronger Than Ever > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=34d5f3e7-171d-49e6-8455-7e13ebd19a8d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=34d5f3e7-171d-49e6-8455-7e13ebd19a8d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=34d5f3e7-171d-49e6-8455-7e13ebd19a8d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=34d5f3e7-171d-49e6-8455-7e13ebd19a8d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Why Saunas Are Ridiculously Good for You [Watch (HLS stream): Why Saunas Are Ridiculously Good for You](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6TgUeLyN.m3u8) (1:32)  _Published 2018-01-10. A visit to the sauna is more than just relaxing; it seems to have real heart and cardiovascular benefits, as well_  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Aug 1, 2018 5:00 PM UTC A visit to the sauna is more than just relaxing; it seems to have real heart and cardiovascular benefits, as well  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Aug 1, 2018 5:00 PM UTC A new research review has plenty of good news for people who love a good sauna session: Studies overwhelmingly suggest that the relaxing habit is [also a healthy one](http://time.com/4628595/health-benefits-sauna/). [A paper published Wednesday](https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2818%2930275-1/fulltext) in _Mayo Clinic Proceedings_ gathered existing findings on Finnish sauna bathing, the practice of spending time in relatively dry rooms heated to between 80 and 100 degrees Celsius, interspersed with periods of cooling. The results were pulled from more than 70 studies published up through February 2018. Overall, the research suggests that “sauna bathing, an activity used for the purposes of pleasure, wellness, and relaxation, is linked to a remarkable array of health benefits,” the authors conclude. Here are a few. ## Saunas may improve vascular health [Research suggests](http://time.com/5262794/saunas-stroke-risk/) that saunas can improve vascular health in a variety of ways, from [lowering blood pressure](http://time.com/4967605/sauna-lower-blood-pressure/) and risk factors for hypertension to reducing bathers’ [likelihood of fatal heart disease](http://time.com/3719354/sauna-live-longer/), stroke and neurological decline. Some studies included in the review did not account for things like reverse causation — the notion that healthier people may be more likely to use saunas, as opposed to saunas making people healthier — but more recent research has suggested that spending time in the sauna can [directly affect your blood pressure](http://time.com/5096264/sauna-health-benefits/), vascular function, oxidative stress, inflammation levels and more, according to the paper. In fact, some researchers have drawn comparisons between the benefits drawn from sauna bathing and [moderate- or high-intensity exercise](http://time.com/5285426/exercise-heart-health-aging/). ## Saunas can improve respiratory function Sauna bathing has been shown to enhance lung capacity and function, [potentially resulting in improved breathing](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2596966) for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, according to the paper. Sauna regulars may also have fewer common colds and flus and a lower risk of pneumonia, the study adds, suggesting that sauna bathing may also boost the body’s immune response. ## They promote pain relief [Research has shown](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1375727) that people suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, report lessened discomfort after spending time in a sauna. When interspersed with cooling periods, sauna stints may also boost the body’s natural painkilling response, according to the paper. Similar results have been observed [among people with chronic headaches](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25636135), the paper says. ## Saunas may be good for your mood Though many people use saunas specifically to reduce stress, research about how they affect mental health is scarce. Nonetheless, the review notes that time in saunas can boost the production of feel-good hormones such as endorphins, possibly leading to stress relief and an improved mood. Thermal therapy in general, though not specifically Finnish saunas, has also been linked with a reduced risk of depression, the review notes. ## Transcript [00:00] [ MUSIC ] [00:11] [ MUSIC ] [00:22] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [01:20] [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/"},"headline":"The Case For Sauna Bathing Is Stronger Than Ever","datePublished":"2018-08-01T17:00:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-12T09:36:25.320Z","description":"It's good for your heart, lungs and mood","url":"https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/","keywords":["Research","onetime","healthytime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7dca29226ce11b2d/698936ce457a527447d5f026/finnish-sauna.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Ducharme","jobTitle":"Ducharme is a contributor to TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7dca29226ce11b2d/698936ce457a527447d5f026/finnish-sauna.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Interior of Finnish sauna, classic wooden sauna","caption":"Interior of Finnish sauna, classic wooden sauna","creditText":"qwerty01—Getty Images/iStockphoto","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/research/","name":"Research"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/","name":"The Case For Sauna Bathing Is Stronger Than Ever"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Why Saunas Are Ridiculously Good for You","description":"A visit to the sauna is more than just relaxing; it seems to have real heart and cardiovascular benefits, as well","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/6TgUeLyN/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2018-01-10T20:39:43.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6TgUeLyN.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/","duration":"PT1M32S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5354994/saunas-health-benefits/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```