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, S. K., Laukkanen, T., Zaccardi, F., Khan, H., & Laukkanen, J. A. (2021). Standalone sauna vs exercise followed by sauna on cardiovascular function in non‐naïve sauna users : A comparison of acute effects. Health Science Reports, 4(4), Article e393. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.393
Published in
Health Science ReportsAuthors
Date
2021Copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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.
...


Publisher
John Wiley & SonsISSN Search the Publication Forum
2398-8835Keywords
Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/101327137
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
Additional information about funding
This research received no funding.License
Related items
Showing items with similar title or keywords.
-
Sauna exposure leads to improved arterial compliance : Findings from a non-randomised experimental study
Lee, Earric; Laukkanen, Tanjaniina; Kunutsor, Setor K.; Khan, Hassan; Willeit, Peter; Zaccardi, Francesco; Laukkanen, Jari A. (Oxford University Press, 2018)Background Heat therapy has been suggested to improve cardiovascular function. However, the effects of hot sauna exposure on arterial compliance and the dynamics of blood flow and pressure have not been well documented. ... -
Acute effects of exercise and sauna as a single intervention on arterial compliance
Lee, Earric; Willeit, Peter; Laukkanen, Tanjaniina; Kunutsor, Setor K.; Zaccardi, Francesco; Khan, Hassan; Laukkanen, Jari (Sage Publications Ltd., 2020) -
The Effects of Combined Same Session Aerobic and Resistance Training on Physical Performance in Coronary Artery Disease Patients : Protocol Comparison
Clavario, P.; Barbara, C.; Porcile, A.; Russo, C.; Zappulla, T.; Capurroa, E.; Cornero, T.; Ferrari, Aggradi, C.; Mäkikallio, T.; Hautala A., J. (Austin Publishing Group, 2021)Aerobic training is included to cardiac rehabilitation programs together with resistance training. The effects of combined aerobic and resistance training performed in a same session with different protocols on peak aerobic ... -
Acute arterial stiffness, testosterone and force production responses and recovery from different combined strength and endurance loading models
Lee, Earric (2017)Much of the differences between strength (S) and endurance (E) exercise can be attributed to the contrasting endocrinological and molecular responses between the two exercise modes. From the current literature, it seems ... -
Effects of resistance training frequency on cardiorespiratory fitness in older men and women during intervention and follow-up
Fernández-Lezaun, Elena; Schumann, Moritz; Mäkinen, Tuomas; Kyröläinen, Heikki; Walker, Simon (Pergamon Press, 2017)This study investigated the effects of resistance training (RT) performed with different frequencies, including a follow-up period, on cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy older individuals. Eighty-eight men and women (69 ...