Love Your Heart: The Cardiovascular Benefits of Infrared Sauna Therapy

By Mackenzie Weis Jones, DNP, FNP-BC
Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner

February is often the month we associate with hearts, but as a functional medicine practitioner, I believe heart health deserves attention all year long. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women, yet so much of heart health is influenced by daily habits, stress levels, inflammation, circulation, and metabolic balance.

One powerful—and often overlooked—tool I frequently recommend to patients is infrared sauna therapy. Beyond relaxation, regular infrared sauna use can provide meaningful cardiovascular benefits that support a healthier, more resilient heart.

How Infrared Sauna Therapy Supports Heart Health

Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air, infrared saunas use light waves to gently heat the body from the inside out. This allows for a deep, therapeutic sweat at lower temperatures, making it more tolerable for many individuals.

Here’s how this type of heat therapy can benefit your cardiovascular system:

• Improves Circulation & Mimics Gentle Cardio Infrared sauna sessions increase your core body temperature, causing blood vessels to dilate. This improves circulation and oxygen delivery throughout the body. As your heart rate rises, the experience can resemble moderate-intensity exercise, offering cardiovascular conditioning benefits—especially helpful for those who are limited in their ability to exercise.

• Supports Healthy Blood Pressure Regular sauna use has been associated with improved vascular function and relaxation of the nervous system. Many patients notice a gentle lowering of blood pressure over time, particularly when sauna therapy is combined with hydration, mineral support, and lifestyle changes.

• Reduces Inflammation & Oxidative Stress Chronic inflammation is a major driver of heart disease. Infrared sauna therapy promotes detoxification through sweating and supports the body’s natural anti-inflammatory processes. This can help lower systemic inflammation, which plays a key role in atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.

• Enhances Nitric Oxide Production Infrared heat stimulates nitric oxide release, which helps relax and widen blood vessels. This improves blood flow, reduces vascular resistance, and supports overall heart and vessel health.

• Helps Regulate Stress & the Nervous System Stress is one of the most underestimated contributors to cardiovascular disease. Infrared sauna therapy activates the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous system, helping lower cortisol levels and improve heart rate variability—both important markers of cardiovascular resilience.

A Functional Medicine Perspective

In functional medicine, we don’t view heart health in isolation. We look at root causes—including insulin resistance, chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, toxin exposure, poor sleep, and inflammation. Infrared sauna therapy fits beautifully into this model because it supports multiple systems at once:

• Cardiovascular

• Detoxification

• Nervous system regulation

• Metabolic health

• Recovery and longevity

When used consistently, sauna therapy can be a cornerstone habit that amplifies the benefits of nutrition, movement, supplementation, and stress management.

Why We Chose Sunlighten Infrared Saunas

At our practice, we are intentional about the therapies we offer. Sunlighten infrared saunas are medical-grade, research-backed, and designed to deliver precise wavelengths that target cellular health, detoxification, and cardiovascular support.

Patients often report:

• Improved energy and circulation

• Better sleep

• Reduced muscle and joint pain

• Improved stress tolerance

• A deep sense of relaxation and recovery

Most importantly, sauna sessions are something many people actually enjoy—which means they’re more likely to stay consistent.

Is Infrared Sauna Therapy Right for You?

Infrared sauna therapy may be especially beneficial if you:

• Are focused on heart disease prevention

• Have high stress or burnout

• Are working on blood pressure, cholesterol, or metabolic health

• Want cardiovascular benefits without intense exercise

• Are looking for supportive longevity tools

As always, sauna therapy should be personalized, especially for individuals with known cardiovascular conditions. We’re happy to help determine what’s safe and appropriate for you.

Love Your Heart: Book a Sauna Session

Your heart works hard for you every day. Supporting it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Infrared sauna therapy is a simple, relaxing, and powerful way to invest in your cardiovascular health.

We invite you to experience the benefits of our Sunlighten infrared sauna and make heart health part of your regular self-care routine.

Book your sauna session today or reach out to our team with any questions, we’d love to support you on your heart health journey.

Your heart will thank you.