Clambering into a hot sauna might be the last thing you want to do during a heatwave.But researchers say that 'heat training' in these roasting hot Scandinavian baths could be critical in helping us adjust to the scorching summer temperatures.According to Professor Jari Laukkanen, a cardiologist at the University of Eastern Finland, spending time in saunas can help your body to get better at coping with heat.And as extreme summer heatwaves become more common thanks to climate change, those adaptations could prove vital.Speaking to the Daily Mail, Professor Laukkanen said: 'Repeated heat exposure can induce heat acclimation. As the body gradually becomes better at coping with heat, you may tolerate it better.' His suggestion comes as the UK battles with one of the hottest summers on record, with temperatures having exceeded 30°C on 31 days so far this year.With parts of the UK having already faced four heatwaves this year, the UK Health Security Agency has once again issued amber and yellow heat health warnings for much of England.Clambering into a hot sauna might be the last thing you want to do during a heatwave. But researchers say that 'heat training' in these roasting hot Scandinavian baths could be critical in helping us adjust to the scorching summer temperatures (stock image) Research has shown that using a sauna can help your body adapt to the heat through various means, including increasing the volume of blood plasma (illustrated)Sauna bathing has exploded in popularity in the UK over the last few years, with dedicated enthusiasts making weekly or even daily trips to one of the 844 saunas across the country.Besides being the latest trendy pastime, a growing body of research suggests that putting yourself through these extremes has a wide range of health benefits.Now, researchers say that one of these benefits could be an improved resistance to extreme heat.In a traditional sauna, bathers will sit in temperatures between 70°C and 100°C (160–210°F) for 10 to 15 minutes before quickly cooling off in ice–cold water.Professor Laukkanen, who has undertaken research into the health benefits of saunas, says that this process can improve the body's 'thermoregulatory responses'.He says: 'Adaptations can include earlier and more effective sweating, improved skin blood flow, expansion of plasma volume, and reduced cardiovascular strain during subsequent heat exposure.'Together, these changes may help people tolerate hot environments more efficiently.'Research also suggests that spending time in the sauna might improve how people behave in the heat. This comes as the UK faces one of the hottest and driest summers on record, with temperatures reaching over 30°C on 31 days this year so far. Pictured: Grass in Blackheath, south–east London, has turned entirely brown