Standalone sauna vs exercise followed by sauna on cardiovascular function in non-naïve sauna users: A comparison of acute effects
Lee E, Kostensalo J, Willeit P, Kunutsor SK, Laukkanen T, Zaccardi F, Khan H, Laukkanen JA
Health science reports · 9 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2021-10-01 · Health Sci Rep · vol. 4 · issue 4 · p. e393
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Cited
- 9 citations · more than 70% of similar papers · 0.8× the field average
- References
- 48 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Body Contouring and Surgery · Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention
- Keywords
- Medicine, Physical therapy, Cardiology, Internal medicine
8 authors
From FI, AT, GB, US
- Earric LeeUniversity of Jyväskylä
- Joel KostensaloUniversity of Jyväskylä
- Peter WilleitInnsbruck Medical University; Universität Innsbruck; University of Cambridge
- Setor K. KunutsorUniversity Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Southmead Hospital; National Institute for Health and Care Research; University of Bristol
- Tanjaniina LaukkanenUniversity of Eastern Finland
- Francesco ZaccardiLeicester General Hospital
Abstract
Background and aims
Sauna bathing and aerobic exercise have each been shown to affect cardiovascular function. However, direct comparisons between standalone sauna bathing and a combination of exercise and sauna on vascular indices remain limited. Therefore, we conducted a cross-over study using matched durations to explore the hemodynamic changes of sauna exposure when compared to a combination of aerobic exercise and sauna exposure.
Methods
Participants (N = 72) with at least one cardiovascular risk factor underwent, on two separate occasions: (a) a 30-minute sauna at 75°C (SAUNA) and (b) the combination of a 15-minute cycling exercise at 75% maximum heart rate followed by 15-minute sauna exposure (EX+SAUNA). Relative changes to arterial stiffness (PWV), augmentation index (Alx), brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), central SBP (cSBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were compared PRE-POST and pre- to 30-minutes post-intervention (PRE-POST30).
Results
Baseline SBP and DBP were 143 (SD 18) mmHg and 86 (SD 10) mmHg, respectively. From PRE-POST, SAUNA had lower DBP (mean difference [95% CI] 2.5 [1.0, 4.1], P = .002) and MAP (2.5 [0.6, 4.3], P = .01). However, EX+SAUNA had lower SBP (-2.7 [-4.8, -0.5], P = .02), DBP (-1.8 [-3.3, -0.4], P = .01), and MAP (-2.0 [-3.5, -0.5], P = .009) PRE-POST30. There were no statistically significant differences between SAUNA and EX+SAUNA for other measured parameters.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that when matched for duration, EX+SAUNA and SAUNA elicit comparable acute hemodynamic alterations in middle-aged participants with cardiovascular risk factors. The sauna is a suitable option for acute blood pressure reductions in those who are unable to perform aerobic exercise, and may be a viable lifestyle treatment option to improve blood pressure control.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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