Sitting in a sauna feels good. Now a new study reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that saunas may be good for your heart, too.

Researchers studied 25 men with at least one coronary risk factor such as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, or smoking. Once a day for two weeks, they had a 15-minute sauna bath at 140° F, followed by half an hour in a bed covered with blankets. The researchers then used ultrasound to assess the functioning of the men's vascular endothelium, the thin layer of cells that lines the interior of blood vessels. Endothelial dysfunction is believed to be the first step in the development of atherosclerosis.

After two weeks of sauna treatments, the endothelial function in the patients with risk factors was "significantly improved," with one measure of function showing a 40% improvement.

Although extreme heat exposure is generally not advised for people with advanced heart disease, the researchers suggest that sauna treatments may have value for people with coronary heart disease.

Related information Consequences - atherosclerosis