Can working up a sweat in a sauna improve your health?
Inside Health
BBC
4.4 • 575 Ratings
🗓️ 20 January 2026
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Saunas are popping up all over the country, with many people claiming they relax muscles and help ease stress. But what does the science say? This week, James Gallagher travels to Môr A Sawna in Jackson’s Bay, Barry, where he treats himself to a sauna session and undergoes a number of physical tests to find out what benefits the sweaty heat could offer.
Next up, James visits The Advanced Neuropathies Centre in Cardiff to speak with Professor Liam Gray, a surgeon who is leading a pioneering treatment for Huntington’s disease.
Presenter: James Gallagher Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Gerry Holt Researcher: Tom Hunt Editor: Ilan Goodman Production coordinator: Stuart Laws
This episode was produced in partnership with The Open University.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Hello, I'm Greg Jenner, and good news, |
| 0:09.5 | Your Dead to Me, is back for a new series. |
| 0:11.6 | Here we go. |
| 0:12.1 | Yes, we'll explore Emperor Nero's notorious reign with Professor Mary Beard and Patton Oswald. |
| 0:16.9 | I would not want my daughter having the remote control, not alone an empire. |
| 0:38.6 | We'll dissect the decadent life of Philippe Duke-Dolion with Tom Allen. I've often tried to pretend I'm an aristocrat and being very quickly knocked down. And there'll be so much more with comedians like Olga Koch, Mike Wozniak and Rihelina. I'm excited. You're dead to me. The comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Listen first on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:42.6 | Hello there and welcome to the Inside Health podcast. I'm James Gallagher. |
| 0:51.9 | I hope you're all well. In a bit, we're going to go behind the scenes of the first treatment for the devastating disease Huntington's and find out what it means for families. |
| 0:56.1 | But first, we're seeing what saunas do to the human body. They're popping up all over the country |
| 0:58.1 | with claims that high temperatures boost your health |
| 1:00.9 | and well-being. |
| 1:02.0 | But are they all they're cracked up to be? |
| 1:04.7 | I went to Morasona, |
| 1:06.2 | overlooking the beach in Jackson's Bay in Barry Island to find out. That's a tricky one. |
| 1:15.6 | Hello everyone. |
| 1:22.1 | Who loves a sauna? |
| 1:23.6 | Me. |
| 1:25.5 | Tell me why. |
| 1:27.7 | It's just so relaxing. |
| 1:30.3 | It just makes you feel at ease. |
| 1:32.8 | It's also great for relaxing muscles. |
... |
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