Supporting heart health plays a powerful role in how we feel now, and how we live in the years ahead. Yet, heart disease remains one of the most common health conditions, affecting millions of adults today [1]. At the same time, science shows that many forms of heart disease can be reduced or delayed by adopting healthy lifestyle factors. This includes managing blood pressure, metabolism, cholesterol, sleep, and more [2].
In recognition of American Heart Month, we’re highlighting 5 ways Perspire takes a prevention-focused approach to cardiovascular wellness. This article explores how consistent use of infrared sauna and red light therapy can help you feel better today while supporting your heart health well into the future.
A prevention-first approach focuses on supporting heart health before disease develops, rather than waiting until symptoms or diagnoses appear. This mindset recognizes that cardiovascular health is shaped over time by consistent lifestyle behaviors and supportive wellness practices.
When practiced regularly, heat therapy supports heart health over the long term. Large observational studies have linked habitual sauna use to favorable cardiovascular outcomes, including improved vascular function (blood vessel health) and lower risk of heart attacks [3] [4]. For example, adults who reported using saunas 4 or more times per week had a 50% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events compared to those who said they used a sauna once each week [4]. Those who completed 2-3 sauna sessions per week had a 20-25% lower risk, meaning that moderate use comes with a meaningful benefit [3].
While sauna use is not a substitute for medical care or regular exercise, these findings reinforce the value of consistent heat therapy as part of a prevention-minded approach to heart health. Learn more about creating a sustainable infrared sauna ritual here.
Healthy circulation, the ability of blood vessels to expand and deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, is a foundation of heart health. Poor vascular function can lead to impaired blood flow, inflammation, and a higher risk for complications related to cardiovascular disease.
Heat exposure from regular sauna sessions has been linked to vascular adaptations that may support circulation [9]. When you’re exposed to passive heat therapy, your blood vessels vasodilate (widen) to help redistribute blood and manage core body temperature. These repeated circulatory responses may help reinforce the health of your blood vessels and support cardiovascular function over time.
Sleep quantity (how long you sleep) and quality (how well you sleep) play a critical role in heart health, supporting both blood pressure regulation and stress management [5, 6]. As physiologist Dr. Brittany Lebeouf notes, “sleep is essential for optimal hormone function, weight loss, mood regulation and exercise performance,” all factors that are closely linked to long-term cardiovascular health. Perspire supports sleep through infrared heat and proprietary red light therapy panels, both of which promote relaxation without disrupting the body’s natural sleep signals. Infrared heat encourages deep relaxation and stress reduction, as well as post-session cooling. The decrease in core body temperature as you thermoregulate after the sauna can help signal your circadian rhythm that it’s time for sleep. Red light therapy can also promote relaxation and has been linked to increases in melatonin in some small studies [7].
Read more about sleep and infrared heat here.
Metabolic health, including your body’s ability to regulate blood glucose, is closely tied to cardiovascular risk. Some research indicates that adults with metabolic disorders are 2x more likely to have heart health conditions than those without metabolic disorders [8]. Together, these findings highlight why supporting metabolic health through prevention-focused practices is an important consideration for heart health as we age.
Regular infrared sauna sessions may complement other lifestyle strategies for metabolic wellness, including consuming a nutrient dense diet and exercising regularly [9]. By improving circulation, reducing stress, expending energy, and supporting recovery, consistent heat therapy may indirectly support glucose uptake and metabolic efficiency. While infrared saunas are not a standalone treatment for metabolic conditions, they can be a valuable part of a comprehensive approach to supporting metabolic function and heart health.
For more information on how regular sauna use supports metabolism, read our science blog here.
While some short-term stress is adaptive and helps us manage the demands of daily life, chronic stress can impact cardiovascular strain by elevating blood pressure and increasing inflammation [10]. Chronic stress also negatively impacts mood, sleep, and our ability to find margin to prioritize preventative wellness. That’s why stress management is a cornerstone of healthspan, which includes heart health.
Perspire’s wellness modalities, including infrared heat and red light therapy, are designed to help the body move out of the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight system) and toward a more restorative state. Consistent sauna use has been linked to reported reductions in perceived stress and improvements in mental wellness, making it a helpful buffer against chronic stress [11].
Our recent blog post “Self-Care Ritual for Stress Relief” provides a deeper look at the science behind stress relief and sauna use.
Key Takeaways
If prioritizing heart health is on your mind, find a Perspire location near you and take the first step toward feeling better today and living better tomorrow.
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