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How Saunas Boost Immune Systems Revealed
Researchers found a single sauna session briefly raised all circulating white blood cells in 51 adults, while cytokine levels changed little overall.
- Scientists in Finland discovered that one 30-minute sauna session temporarily increases circulating white blood cells, which play a key role in defending the body against infection.
- The study involved 51 adults with an average age of 50, where participants underwent a 30-minute sauna session that included a brief cooling period under a cold shower midway through.
- Rather than creating new immune cells, the heat appears to mobilize existing ones from tissues into the bloodstream; Academy Research Fellow Ilkka Heinonen said this periodic release helps cells "better able to patrol the body and respond to pathogens."
- Researchers say this response mirrors effects observed during exercise, where the body boosts immune surveillance by increasing white blood cell movement; cytokine levels remained largely unchanged.
- Crucially, major immune groups returned to normal levels within around 30 minutes, and experts caution that this research only examined short-term effects of the heat-based sauna ritual.
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14 Articles
ABC FOX Montana+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
How saunas boost immune systems revealed
Sauna bathing releases white blood cells into the bloodstream, which play a "key" role in the body's defense.
·Missoula, United States
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
C 80%
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