Bastubadaren
Sauna bathing is an ancient tradition that has played an important role in human cultural, social and medical development. The early impact on human health was mainly due to improved hygiene and later research has shown effects similar to those of physical activity.
Sauna bathing is a social event, but it also helps recovery from exercise and reduces stress, worry and anxiety. It allows us to sleep better and reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, as well as reducing the risk of developing hypertension, stroke, dementia and various lung diseases and psychiatric diagnoses. Jari Laukkanen and his team from the University of Kuopio have published several articles describing the positive effects of sauna bathing, especially on cardiovascular health.
As a first step, we intend to describe the "sauna user" and their sauna habits based on a number of variables in the MONICA survey 2022, such as age, gender, socio-economic variables, marital status, education, employment, lifestyle-smoking/alcohol, exercise habits, diagnoses and self-rated health. A comparison will be made between those who never bathe in a sauna and those who bathe less than once a month, 1-3 times a month and at least once a week. In the next step, the aim is to investigate possible links between sauna habits and cardiovascular health but also other issues such as the impact on sleep, diabetes, women's health and quality of life.
Participants from Luleå University of Technology: Åsa Engström
External participant: Hans Hägglund (KS, Uppsala University)
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