The Science-Backed Benefits of Infrared Sauna Therapy
Infrared sauna therapy is quickly becoming a favorite in the wellness world—and for good reason. Unlike traditional steam or dry saunas, which heat the air around you, infrared sauna therapy warms your body directly offering a lot of benefits.
This results in a more comfortable session at lower temperatures while still promoting intense sweating and deep detoxification.
This gentle yet powerful heat can:
● Boost circulation
● Ease muscle and joint pain
● Support relaxation
● Improve skin health
Whether you’re recovering from a workout, looking to lower stress, or simply wanting an overall wellness boost, infrared sauna therapy offers a soothing, science-backed way to support your body. At STAT Wellness, we’ve seen remarkable changes in clients who incorporate sauna use into their routines—including improvements in blood pressure, inflammation markers, blood sugar, hormone balance, and stress resilience. Here’s a deeper look at the research.
1. Blood Pressure
Blood pressure Stress and Blood Sugar Regulation measures the force of blood against your artery walls. Maintaining healthy levels helps protect your heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, while very low blood pressure can limit oxygen delivery to organs.
What the research says: Regular infrared sauna use has been linked to a lower risk of developing hypertension, thanks to improved arterial flexibility.
● Men who used infrared sauna 2–3 times per week had a 24% lower risk of developing high blood pressure.
● Men who used it 4–7 times per week had a 46% lower risk compared with once-a-week users.¹
● Even a single sauna session can temporarily lower blood pressure and improve artery elasticity.²
Bottom line: Sauna therapy may offer a natural, drug-free way to support healthy blood pressure.
2. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Infrared Sauna Therapy
CRP is a marker of inflammation produced by the liver. High levels can indicate infection, injury, or chronic inflammatory conditions—and are linked to increased cardiovascular risk.
What the research says: In a study of over 2,000 Finnish men, frequent sauna use was associated with lower CRP levels in a clear, dose-dependent relationship.³ ⁴ This means the more often participants used a sauna, the lower their inflammation markers tended to be.
Bottom line: Infrared sauna sessions may help reduce inflammation, supporting cardiovascular and overall health.
3. Glucose & Insulin
Balanced glucose and insulin levels are key for metabolic health. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels, while insulin resistance increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.
What the science and research says:
● Repeated far-infrared sauna use can significantly reduce fasting blood glucose.⁵
● In one study, diabetic mice exposed to heat therapy three times a week for 12 weeks experienced a 31% drop in insulin and lower blood sugar levels.⁶
● The heat boosted GLUT4 transporter activity in muscles, helping move glucose out of the bloodstream.
Bottom line: Infrared sauna therapy may help improve insulin sensitivity and stabilize blood sugar.
4. Cortisol & DHEA-S (Stress Hormones)
Cortisol is the body’s main stress hormone, while DHEA-S helps balance it.
Chronic stress can lead to high cortisol and low DHEA-S, impacting immunity, mood, and energy.
What the research says: Sauna sessions can temporarily raise cortisol as part of the body’s stress adaptation, followed by a lowering effect that promotes relaxation.
● In one study, four 12-minute sauna sessions significantly reduced serum cortisol levels.⁷
● Regular use may also help maintain a healthier cortisol-to-DHEA-S ratio, improving stress resilience.
Bottom line: Sauna use supports a healthier stress response, helping you feel calmer and more balanced.
The Takeaway
Infrared sauna therapy isn’t just a relaxing experience—it’s a powerful tool backed by science for improving cardiovascular health, lowering inflammation, supporting metabolism, and enhancing stress resilience.
At STAT Wellness, we have partnerships with great companies like Beem in Nashville, TN that provide state of the art infrared sauna therapy. Whether you’re an athlete looking for faster recovery or simply someone wanting to improve overall health, an infrared sauna session could be your new favorite wellness ritual.
Book a FREE 15 with one of our providers to learn more about Infrared Sauna therapy or if you are a STAT Member at our Nashville location, you get 15% memberships and packages with code STAT15 at Beem!
References: ¹ Kunutsor, S.K., et al. (2017). American Journal of Hypertension, 30(11). ² Laukkanen, T., et al. (2017). European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 25(2). ³ Hage, F.G. (2013). Journal of Human Hypertension, 28(7). ⁴ Laukkanen, J., et al. (2017). European Journal of Epidemiology, 33(3). ⁵ Imamura, M., et al. (2001). Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 38(4). ⁶ Handa, O., et al. (2007). International Journal of Hyperthermia, 23(3). ⁷ Podstawski, R., et al. (2021). American Journal of Men’s Health, 15(2).
