Hormonal Responses to Sauna Bathing

Sauna bathing in healthy individuals results is various endocrine changes that have many positive health benefits. Studies have shown that bathing in a sauna for a longer duration will increase heart rate and blood flow. Noradrenaline increases by about 100%-160%, prolactin levels can increase between 2- and 7-fold, beta-endorphin immunoreactivity at 100 D, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone, testosterone also increase. Interestingly, cortisol decreases (Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1989;58(5):543-50). PMID: 2759081.