A single sauna session sends immune cells surging
A single 30-minute sauna session may briefly put the immune system on higher alert. Finnish researchers found that sauna heat, paired with a short cold shower, increased every type of white blood cell circulating in the bloodstream, including key infection fighters such as neutrophils and lymphocytes.
A Finnish study reveals that a 30-minute sauna session temporarily increases the number of white blood cells in circulation. These immune cells play a crucial role in detecting and combating pathogens. Researchers found that every type of circulating white blood cell surged during the sauna, including neutrophils and lymphocytes.
The study involved 51 adults and was conducted by Jari Laukkanen at the University of Eastern Finland. After the session, white blood cell levels returned to normal within 30 minutes. This suggests that sauna bathing mobilizes additional white blood cells from tissues and redeposits them post-session. This periodic release is beneficial as it enables immune cells to patrol the body more effectively.
Ilkka Heinonen, an Academy Research Fellow at the University of Turku, explains that similar immune responses occur during physical exercise. The study also noted that sauna bathing caused minor changes in cytokine levels, signaling molecules that coordinate immune activity. However, the relationship between body temperature increases and cytokine responses was temperature-dependent.
While the study highlights the immune benefits of sauna use, researchers caution that the findings only reflect immediate effects and cannot establish long-term impacts.
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