The way your blood pressure rises and falls in saunas is similar to the way your blood pressure behaves when you’re done working out

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A study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that a 25-minute sauna session shares similar cardiovascular health benefits as a moderate-intensity exercise.

Researchers examined over 19 participants to measure the immediate effects of sauna use on the cardiovascular system. Participants had their blood pressure and heart rate measured during the 30-minute sauna session. The heat exposure of the sauna led to an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as in heart rate. All these then decreased right after the session was over.

The way your blood pressure rises during a sauna session and falls right after is similar to the way your blood pressure falls when you’re done working out

On a different day, the same participants were asked to do a submaximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. The exercise load of the participants started at 50 watts with an increase of 10 watts every minute. The researchers then found the same results between the sauna session and the physical load of 60 to 100 watts on the exercise bike. It was also discovered that a 25-minute sauna session shared the same benefits as a short exercise on a stationary bike.

According to one of the study’s authors, the way your blood pressure comes down after a sauna session is beneficial to the cardiovascular system. The way your blood pressure rises during a sauna session and falls right after is similar to the way your blood pressure falls when you’re done working out. Both “tone” your system by forcing it to work harder for a brief period before returning to a baseline level.

But saunas don’t equate to a workout

To clarify, sauna use technically isn’t a workout, so it doesn’t necessarily give you the same benefits of exercise. Consider saunas instead as a great complement to your actual workout routine. Because ultimately, getting in a sauna can be beneficial in many ways: It helps improve blood circulation, reduces muscle soreness, improves joint movements, and eases arthritis pain. It’s also a great way to reduce stress levels and is known to improve skin problems and asthma.