Frequent sauna use reduces the risk of psychosis by 51 percent, regardless of fitness levels.
Psychosis is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by a disconnection from reality, often manifesting as hallucinations or delusions. Evidence suggests that lifestyle factors reduce the risk of developing psychosis. A recent study found that using a sauna three or more times a week reduces the risk of psychosis by more than half, regardless of fitness levels.
Researchers drew on data from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, an ongoing investigation of adult men living in Finland. The researchers assessed the men’s cardiorespiratory fitness and collected information about their weekly sauna use, categorized as low use (fewer than two sessions) or high use (three or more sessions). They identified participants who had been diagnosed with psychosis during a period of about 25 years.
They found that cardiorespiratory fitness markedly reduced the risk of psychosis, with medium fitness reducing risk by 35 percent and high fitness reducing risk by 25 percent. However, they found that high sauna use reduced the risk of developing psychosis by 50 percent compared to low use, even when they took fitness levels into account.
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These findings suggest that frequent sauna use and medium to high cardiorespiratory fitness independently reduce the risk of psychosis. However, frequent sauna use might lower the risk of psychosis regardless of fitness levels and could be a stronger predictor of reduced psychosis risk than cardiorespiratory fitness.
Sauna use exposes the body to extreme heat, stressing the body. Heat stress reduces systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and cortisol levels, which may play roles in the development of psychosis. Learn more about the brain benefits of sauna use in this episode featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.