As a very shitty theory; the results might be able to be explained by frequency of exercise associated with sauna use. i.e. if I go in the sauna every time I gym and I gym 7 days a week instead of 1 day a week I can presume that means I am healthier or am more likely to be healthier.
Previous results from the KIHD study have shown that frequent sauna bathing also significantly reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death, the risk of death due to coronary artery disease and other cardiac events, as well as overall mortality. According to Professor Jari Laukkanen, the study leader, sauna bathing may protect both the heart and memory to some extent via similar, still poorly known mechanisms. “However, it is known that cardiovascular health affects the brain as well. The sense of well-being and relaxation experienced during sauna bathing may also play a role.”
As I would expect with general health. I barely know anyone who uses a sauna, let alone anyone who uses one 7 days a week. Mainly due to them mostly existing in conjunction with health infrastructure like gyms and swimming pools.
Note that the study is from Finland, where sauna-going is not particularly associated with exercise: people just go into the sauna for its own sake. There are saunas in conjunction of gyms, yes, but e.g. apartment buildings often have their own dedicated saunas that the tenants can reserve for their own use. (Somebody having a single one-hour sauna shift per week is typical.)
That said, there are probably other confounders in that e.g. people who can use a sauna seven times a week are a lot more likely to have a sauna of their own, so live in their own house rather than an apartment, among other things.
As a very shitty theory; the results might be able to be explained by frequency of exercise associated with sauna use. i.e. if I go in the sauna every time I gym and I gym 7 days a week instead of 1 day a week I can presume that means I am healthier or am more likely to be healthier.
As I would expect with general health. I barely know anyone who uses a sauna, let alone anyone who uses one 7 days a week. Mainly due to them mostly existing in conjunction with health infrastructure like gyms and swimming pools.
Note that the study is from Finland, where sauna-going is not particularly associated with exercise: people just go into the sauna for its own sake. There are saunas in conjunction of gyms, yes, but e.g. apartment buildings often have their own dedicated saunas that the tenants can reserve for their own use. (Somebody having a single one-hour sauna shift per week is typical.)
That said, there are probably other confounders in that e.g. people who can use a sauna seven times a week are a lot more likely to have a sauna of their own, so live in their own house rather than an apartment, among other things.