World News for Students of English

01-09-2025 07:00

Saunas have been part of human culture for thousands of years, from Finnish sauna traditions to Japanese onsen and Indigenous sweat lodges. Modern science is now studying their effects on health.

A long-term Finnish study of over 2,000 men found that frequent sauna use was linked to better heart health, lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol, and reduced risk of death. Saunas reach up to 90°C with low humidity, triggering the body’s thermoregulatory system: blood vessels widen, heart rate rises, skin absorbs heat, and sweating cools the body. This reaction is similar to moderate exercise, which may strengthen the cardiovascular system.

Sauna use may also aid muscle recovery after workouts by improving blood flow, reducing excess inflammation, and helping the body clear waste. Another benefit is the production of heat shock proteins, which repair DNA and support cell health. However, scientists caution that research is still limited to certain groups and lifestyles, and high heat may be unsafe for some people, such as those with health conditions.

Difficult words: thermoregulatory (controlling body temperature), cardiovascular (related to the heart and blood vessels), inflammation (the body’s natural reaction to injury or infection, often causing pain or swelling).

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