Sauna bathing in northern Sweden: results from the MONICA study 2022
Engström Å, Hägglund H, Lee E, Wennberg M, Söderberg S, Andersson M
International journal of circumpolar health · 13 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- Naturvårdsverket
- University or hospital
- Umeå Universitet
- University or hospital
- Medicinska fakulteten, Umeå Universitet
- University or hospital
- Lulea University of Technology
- Government
- County Councils in Norrbotten and Västerbotten
- Nonprofit
- King Gustaf V and Queen Victoria´s Foundation of Freemasons
- University or hospital
- Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University
- Government
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Based on 8 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2024-10-24 · Int J Circumpolar Health · vol. 83 · issue 1 · p. 2419698
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Cited
- 15 citations · more than 98% of similar papers · 8.8× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 41 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY-NC
- Research areas
- Noise Effects and Management · Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Keywords
- Bathing, Gerontology, Environmental science, Geography, Medicine, Demography, Psychology, Archaeology, Sociology
- MeSH
- humans, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, steam bath, mental health, sleep, health status, adult, aged, middle aged, arctic regions, sweden, female, male, surveys and questionnaires
6 authors
From SE, CA
- Åsa Engström · correspondingLuleå University of Technology
- Hans HägglundUppsala University Hospital
- Earric LeeMontreal Heart Institute; Université de Montréal
- Maria WennbergUmeå University
- Stefan SöderbergUmeå University
- Maria AnderssonKarlstad University
Abstract
Frequent sauna bathing has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and proposed as a mediator for improved health. Therefore, the aim was to describe and compare sauna bathers with non-sauna bathers in northern Sweden based on their demographics, health and life attitudes, and to describe sauna bathers' sauna habits. Questions on sauna bathing habits were included in the questionnaire for the participants in the Northern Sweden MONICA (multinational monitoring of trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease) study, conducted during spring of 2022, inviting adults 25-74 years living in the two northernmost counties of Sweden (Norr- and Västerbotten), randomly selected from the population register. Of the 1180 participants in MONICA 2022, 971 (82%) answered the question about sauna bathing. Of these, 641 (66%) were defined as sauna bathers. Sauna bathers reported less hypertension diagnosis and self-reported pain. They also reported higher levels of happiness and energy, more satisfying sleep patterns, as well as better general and mental health. Sauna bathers were younger, more often men and found to have a healthier life-profile compared to non-sauna bathers. Additionally, the results suggest that the positive effects associated with sauna bathing plateaued from 1-4 times per month.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY-NC).
Community trust
Loading…
How much do you trust this study's findings?
Comments
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inSomething wrong here?
Flag this study if its information, labels or funding look wrong. An editor reviews every flag.
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inEducational information about published research. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to start or stop anything.