{"id":47040,"date":"2026-04-10T21:46:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T21:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=47040"},"modified":"2026-04-10T21:46:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T21:46:59","slug":"relaxing-30-minute-spa-activity-can-boost-immunity-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=47040","title":{"rendered":"Relaxing 30-minute spa activity can boost immunity: study"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>This hobby is white-hot.<\/p>\n<p>Turns out a well-loved relaxation practice isn\u2019t just <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/02\/health\/4-easy-things-that-are-surprisingly-good-for-your-heart-cardiologist\/\">good for heart health<\/a> \u2014\u00a0it may also help the human body defend against nasty pathogens and diseases.<\/p>\n<p>This week, a team of Finnish scientists released findings showing that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/23328940.2026.2645467#abstract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">just 30 minutes in a sauna<\/a> \u2014 paired with a quick, cooling shower halfway through \u2014 resulted in improved circulation of white blood cells. Their presence in the bloodstream is a key part of the body\u2019s immune defense.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"39052093\"><br \/>\n\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<figcaption>Regular sauna bathing is already associated with benefits for the heart, brain and nervous system. Researchers now believe it could also help boost the body\u2019s immune response. <span class=\"credit\">BGStock72 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After half an hour, the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes, two types of white blood cells that had spiked in the blood of study participants, returned to normal.<\/p>\n<p>Ilkka Heinonen, one of the study\u2019s lead authors, said this pattern could mean the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture\/article\/20231024-the-10000-year-origins-of-the-sauna-and-why-its-still-going-strong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ancient sweating custom<\/a> \u2014\u00a0believed to date back at least 10,000 years \u2014 helps those immune responders work more efficiently over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis may indicate that sauna bathing mobilizes additional white blood cells into the bloodstream from tissues, where they are then redeposited after the session,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis kind of periodic release of white blood cells into the bloodstream is beneficial, as once they leave their storage sites, they are better able to patrol the body and respond to pathogens.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Other healthy activities release white blood cells into the bloodstream, too, like exercise. This allows the cells to conduct \u201csurveillance\u201d within the body, pinpointing spots that may need some extra backup.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s no great shock that this research comes from Finland, a country that\u2019s home to 5.5 million people and 3.3 million saunas.<\/p>\n<p>Across northern Europe, contrast therapy, or extreme cold paired with extreme heat, is more than a cultural pastime \u2014\u00a0for many, it\u2019s an essential part of daily life and considered the secret to sustained mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"39052096\"><br \/>\n\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.58513932;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"39052096\" width=\"935\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Illustration of red and white blood cells flowing through a blood vessel.\" class=\"wp-image-39052096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 5000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=300,189&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=768,485&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=1024,646&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=1536,970&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=2048,1293&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=600,379&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=878,554&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=744,470&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=576,364&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=440,278&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=424,268&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=180,114&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=107,68&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=63,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 63w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=111,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 111w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=86,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 86w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=200,126&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=231,146&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=322,203&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=664,419&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 664w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=95,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 95w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=127,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 127w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=1200,757&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=87,55&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=234,148&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=50,32&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/125389699.jpg?resize=150,95&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 935px) 100vw, 935px\"\/><figcaption>Just 30 minutes in a sauna led to increased circulation of white blood cells in the study\u2019s participants. <span class=\"credit\">adimas \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As of 2020, Finnish sauna culture was even <a href=\"https:\/\/ich.unesco.org\/en\/RL\/sauna-culture-in-finland-01596\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">added<\/a> to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.<\/p>\n<p>There are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/fitness-exercise\/are-saunas-good-for-you\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">several different types of saunas<\/a>, including dry and wet, and the temperature can reach anywhere between 110 degrees Fahrenheit and well over 200 degrees Fahrenheit in a traditional Finnish setting.<\/p>\n<p>While the general benefits and risks of a spa remain hotly contested among researchers, a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/jcrjournal\/abstract\/2024\/07000\/enhancing_cardiorespiratory_fitness_through_sauna.11.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">observational Canadian-Finnish study<\/a> showed a promising connection between regular sauna use and improved respiratory, cognitive and cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>Quadruple board-certified cardiologist and <a data-aps-asc-tag=\"nypost-20\" data-aps-asin=\"\" data-wrapped-template=\"https:\/\/r.nypostlink.com?btn_ref=org-19984c113c692001&amp;btn_url\" href=\"https:\/\/r.nypostlink.com?btn_ref=org-19984c113c692001&amp;btn_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fstores%2FQunol%2Fpage%2F7D70A934-1B79-4AB8-9F60-3F7B42688800%3Ftag%3Dnypost-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F04%2F02%2Fhealth%2F4-easy-things-that-are-surprisingly-good-for-your-heart-cardiologist%2F%26asc_source%3Dnypost.com%26ascsubtag%3Dsrctok-87c3ae592109824e%26btn_ref%3Dsrctok-87c3ae592109824e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-nyp-affiliate=\"true\">Qunol<\/a> partner Dr. Tiffany Di Pietro <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/02\/health\/4-easy-things-that-are-surprisingly-good-for-your-heart-cardiologist\/\">recently told The Post<\/a> that sauna-based heat exposure was one of the best things you can do to improve heart health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRegular sauna bathing is associated with lower rates of fatal cardiovascular events in observational data,\u201d she said, though she noted that there\u2019s no proof of direct causation.<\/p>\n<p>Still, she added, \u201cit\u2019s compelling and fits with physiologic effects\u201d that come with the territory of greater relaxation, including lowered blood pressure and better vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels.<\/p>\n<p>Saunas aren\u2019t suitable for everyone, however. Unstable angina, valvular heart disease, a recent heart attack or certain blood pressure issues could be disqualifying conditions for sauna use, and patients should speak with their doctor before settling into a spa.<\/p>\n<p>That said, Nordic folks have raved about their daily sweats and the purported benefits for centuries. And other parts of the world have warmed to the concept, too.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, saunas have become something of a hot commodity in the US. The wellness-obsessed have lit a fire under the sauna market, which is expected to grow by over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.technavio.com\/report\/us-sauna-market-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$150 million before 2029<\/a>, with industry players sweating to get in on the action.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/10\/health\/relaxing-30-minute-spa-activity-can-boost-immunity-study\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This hobby is white-hot. Turns out a well-loved relaxation practice isn\u2019t just good for heart health \u2014\u00a0it may also help the human body defend against nasty&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47040"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47040\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/47041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}