Saunas cause the body to heat up and the heart rate to rise. These are well-known reactions, according to SciTechDaily.
However, a study from Finland shows that something else is also happening inside the body - something that cannot be immediately felt.
The study, published in Temperature, involved 51 adult participants. They sat in a sauna for 30 minutes and took a short cold break along the way.
Afterward, researchers measured changes in their blood. They also examined cytokines, which help the immune system send signals.
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They did not find a clear overall change, but the levels were linked to how much the body temperature increased.
The body’s signals
Cytokines are important for how the body responds to illness. The results suggest that their activity may change depending on how warm the body becomes.
At the same time, researchers observed that changes in white blood cells were not directly linked to the rise in temperature.
The study only shows what happens immediately after a single sauna session. Therefore, it does not provide firm conclusions about how regular sauna use affects health in the long term.
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Temporary activation
After the sauna, the number of white blood cells in the blood increased. Shortly afterward, the levels returned to normal.
No new cells were produced. Instead, existing cells were redistributed throughout the body. They entered the bloodstream, where they are better able to detect bacteria and viruses.
This resembles the same response seen during exercise.
The study found that sauna use temporarily activates the immune system by circulating more white blood cells throughout the body, enabling them to detect bacteria and viruses.
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Sources: SciTechDaily and Temperature.
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