Men who use saunas regularly are protecting themselves from heart problems, according to a study by scientists from the University of Eastern Finland, whose work was published in the journal Jama Internal Medicine.

A total of 2,315 men aged 42-60 from eastern Finland were monitored over 21 years. During the follow-up period, the scientists recorded 190 sudden cardiac deaths, 281 fatal causes of coronary heart disease, 407 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 929 deaths from ‘all causes’.

Those who used saunas regularly, however, seem to have been protected from heart complications. For example, the risk of sudden cardiac death was found to be 22 per cent lower for men who went to saunas two or three times per week and 63 per cent lower for those visiting a sauna four to seven times a week.

Coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease death rates were similarly cut by spending time in saunas.

Participants benefited if they spent longer in the sauna. Those whose sessions lasted 11-19 minutes were seven per cent less likely to suffer a sudden cardiac death compared to those who spent less than 11 minutes in the sauna. Those who spend longer than 19 minutes in the heat were associated with a 52 per cent reduced risk.

Dr Rita Redberg, editor of Jama Internal Medicine and a scientist at the University of California commented: “Although we do not know why the men who went to saunas more frequently had greater longevity – whether it’s the time spent in the hot room, the relaxation time, the leisure of a life that allows for more relaxation time, or the camaraderie of the sauna – clearly time spent in the sauna is time well spent.”