The Experts below are selected from a list of 5583 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Jari A Laukkanen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
standalone Sauna vs exercise followed by Sauna on cardiovascular function in non naive Sauna users a comparison of acute effects
Health Science Reports, 2021Co-Authors: Earric Lee, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter Willeit, Joel Kostensalo, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract: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.
-
endocrine effects of Sauna bath
Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research, 2020Co-Authors: Ilpo Huhtaniemi, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract:Abstract Sauna bath brings about numerous acute changes in hormone levels, partly akin to other stressful situations, partly specific for Sauna. Norepinephrine increases in those accustomed to Sauna bath. Sweating increases the production of antidiuretic hormone, and the renin–angiotensin system becomes activated. Of the anterior pituitary hormones, growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion is increased. Also β-endorphin has been frequently reported to increase, whereas the responses of antidiuretic hormone and cortisol are variable, probably depending on the type of Sauna exposure. Sperm production decreases in particular in Sauna-naive men, but reduced fertility has not been associated with regular Sauna habits. Minor sex differences exist, the hormonal responses being somewhat greater in women. Sauna-naive women may experience mild disturbances in menstrual cycle, but no effects on fertility have been reported. The hormone responses are short-lived, normalizing soon after Sauna exposure during the recovery. Adaptation to regular Sauna use plays an important role in the responses, which attenuate upon frequent exposure.
-
acute neuromuscular and hormonal responses to different exercise loadings followed by a Sauna
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2020Co-Authors: Joonas Antero Rissanen, Jari A Laukkanen, Arja Häkkinen, William J Kraemer, Keijo HakkinenAbstract:Rissanen, JA, Hakkinen, A, Laukkanen, J, Kraemer, WJ, and Hakkinen, K. Acute neuromuscular and hormonal responses to different exercise loadings followed by a Sauna. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 313-322, 2020-The purpose of this study was to investigate acute responses of endurance (E + SA), strength (S + SA), and combined endurance and strength exercise (C + SA) followed by a traditional Sauna bath (70° C, 18% relative humidity) on neuromuscular performance and serum hormone concentrations. Twenty-seven recreationally physically active men who were experienced with taking a Sauna participated in the study. All the subjects performed a Sauna bath only (SA) first as a control measurement followed by S + SA and E + SA (paired matched randomization) and C + SA. Subjects were measured PRE (before exercise), MID (immediately after exercise and before Sauna), POST (after Sauna), POST30min (30 minutes after Sauna), and POST24h (24 hours after PRE). Maximal isometric leg press (ILPFmax) and bench press (IBPFmax) forces, maximal rate of force development (RFD) and countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ), serum testosterone (TES), cortisol (COR), and 22-kD growth hormone (GH22kD) concentrations were measured. All exercise loadings followed by a Sauna decreased ILPFmax (-9 to -15%) and RFD (-20 to -26%) in POST. ILPFmax, RFD, and CMVJ remained at significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lowered levels after S + SA in POST24h. IBPFmax decreased in POST in S + SA and C + SA and remained lowered in POST24h. SA decreased ILPFmax and IBPFmax in POST and POST30min and remained lowered in ILPFmax (-4.1%) at POST24h. GH22kD, TES, and COR elevated significantly in all loadings measured in the afternoon in MID. SA only led to an elevation (15%) in TES in POST. The strength exercise followed by a Sauna was the most fatiguing protocol for the neuromuscular performance. Traditional Sauna bathing itself seems to be strenuous loading, and it may not be recommended 24 hours before the next training session. A Sauna bath after the loadings did not further change the hormonal responses recorded after the exercise loadings.
-
Sauna bathing reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism a prospective cohort study
European Journal of Epidemiology, 2019Co-Authors: Setor K. Kunutsor, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Jari A Laukkanen, Timo H Makikallio, Jussi KauhanenAbstract:Emerging evidence suggests there is an inverse and independent association between Sauna bathing and arterial thrombotic disease. However, the potential association between Sauna bathing and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not yet been investigated. We aimed to assess the prospective association between frequency of Sauna bathing and the risk of VTE. Baseline Sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2242 men aged 42–61 years without a history of VTE in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE. During a median follow-up of 24.9 years, 146 (6.5%) incident VTE events were recorded. In age-adjusted analyses, the HRs 95% (CIs) of VTE were 0.67 (0.47–0.96) and 0.95 (0.53–1.70) for participants who had 2–3 and ≥ 4 Sauna sessions per week respectively compared with participants who had ≤ 1 Sauna session per week. After further adjustment for several established risk factors including lifestyle factors, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.67 (0.46–0.96) and 0.92 (0.51–1.68) respectively. Having Sauna baths was associated with a reduced risk of VTE in a middle-aged male Caucasian population. Further studies in other populations and age groups are required to confirm these findings.
-
Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women a prospective cohort study
BMC Medicine, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Jari A Laukkanen, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter WilleitAbstract:Previous evidence indicates that Sauna bathing is related to a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in men. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Sauna habits and CVD mortality in men and women, and whether adding information on Sauna habits to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is associated with improvement in prediction of CVD mortality risk. Sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline in a sample of 1688 participants (mean age 63; range 53–74 years), of whom 51.4% were women. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to investigate the relationships of frequency and duration of Sauna use with CVD mortality. A total of 181 fatal CVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 15.0 years (interquartile range, 14.1–15.9). The risk of CVD mortality decreased linearly with increasing Sauna sessions per week with no threshold effect. In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, compared with participants who had one Sauna bathing session per week, HRs (95% CIs) for CVD mortality were 0.71 (0.52 to 0.98) and 0.30 (0.14 to 0.64) for participants with two to three and four to seven Sauna sessions per week, respectively. After adjustment for established CVD risk factors, potential confounders including physical activity, socioeconomic status, and incident coronary heart disease, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.75 (0.52 to 1.08) and 0.23 (0.08 to 0.65), respectively. The duration of Sauna use (minutes per week) was inversely associated with CVD mortality in a continuous manner. Addition of information on Sauna bathing frequency to a CVD mortality risk prediction model containing established risk factors was associated with a C-index change (0.0091; P = 0.010), difference in − 2 log likelihood (P = 0.019), and categorical net reclassification improvement (4.14%; P = 0.004). Higher frequency and duration of Sauna bathing are each strongly, inversely, and independently associated with fatal CVD events in middle-aged to elderly males and females. The frequency of Sauna bathing improves the prediction of the long-term risk for CVD mortality.
Setor K. Kunutsor - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
standalone Sauna vs exercise followed by Sauna on cardiovascular function in non naive Sauna users a comparison of acute effects
Health Science Reports, 2021Co-Authors: Earric Lee, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter Willeit, Joel Kostensalo, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract: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.
-
recovery from Sauna bathing favorably modulates cardiac autonomic nervous system
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2019Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Earric Lee, Peter Willeit, Jukka A Lipponen, Claudio Gil Soares De Araujo, Timo H Makikallio, Sanna PoikonenAbstract:Abstract Objective Sauna bathing is becoming a common activity in many countries and it has been linked to favorable health outcomes. However, there is limited data on the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to an acute Sauna exposure. Design We conducted a single-group, longitudinal study utilizing a pre-post design to examine acute effects of Sauna bathing on the autonomic nervous system as reflected by HRV. A total of 93 participants (mean [SD] age: 52.0 [8.8] years, 53.8% males) with cardiovascular risk factors were exposed to a single Sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73 °C; humidity: 10–20%) and data on HRV variables were collected before, during and after Sauna. Results Time and frequency-domain HRV variables were significantly modified (p Conclusions This study demonstrates that a session of Sauna bathing induces an increase in HR. During the cooling down period from Sauna bathing, HRV increased which indicates the dominant role of parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity of cardiac autonomic nervous system. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to show if HR and HRV changes underpins the long-term cardiovascular effects induced by regular Sauna bathing.
-
Sauna bathing reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism a prospective cohort study
European Journal of Epidemiology, 2019Co-Authors: Setor K. Kunutsor, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Jari A Laukkanen, Timo H Makikallio, Jussi KauhanenAbstract:Emerging evidence suggests there is an inverse and independent association between Sauna bathing and arterial thrombotic disease. However, the potential association between Sauna bathing and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not yet been investigated. We aimed to assess the prospective association between frequency of Sauna bathing and the risk of VTE. Baseline Sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2242 men aged 42–61 years without a history of VTE in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE. During a median follow-up of 24.9 years, 146 (6.5%) incident VTE events were recorded. In age-adjusted analyses, the HRs 95% (CIs) of VTE were 0.67 (0.47–0.96) and 0.95 (0.53–1.70) for participants who had 2–3 and ≥ 4 Sauna sessions per week respectively compared with participants who had ≤ 1 Sauna session per week. After further adjustment for several established risk factors including lifestyle factors, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.67 (0.46–0.96) and 0.92 (0.51–1.68) respectively. Having Sauna baths was associated with a reduced risk of VTE in a middle-aged male Caucasian population. Further studies in other populations and age groups are required to confirm these findings.
-
Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women a prospective cohort study
BMC Medicine, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Jari A Laukkanen, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter WilleitAbstract:Previous evidence indicates that Sauna bathing is related to a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in men. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Sauna habits and CVD mortality in men and women, and whether adding information on Sauna habits to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is associated with improvement in prediction of CVD mortality risk. Sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline in a sample of 1688 participants (mean age 63; range 53–74 years), of whom 51.4% were women. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to investigate the relationships of frequency and duration of Sauna use with CVD mortality. A total of 181 fatal CVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 15.0 years (interquartile range, 14.1–15.9). The risk of CVD mortality decreased linearly with increasing Sauna sessions per week with no threshold effect. In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, compared with participants who had one Sauna bathing session per week, HRs (95% CIs) for CVD mortality were 0.71 (0.52 to 0.98) and 0.30 (0.14 to 0.64) for participants with two to three and four to seven Sauna sessions per week, respectively. After adjustment for established CVD risk factors, potential confounders including physical activity, socioeconomic status, and incident coronary heart disease, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.75 (0.52 to 1.08) and 0.23 (0.08 to 0.65), respectively. The duration of Sauna use (minutes per week) was inversely associated with CVD mortality in a continuous manner. Addition of information on Sauna bathing frequency to a CVD mortality risk prediction model containing established risk factors was associated with a C-index change (0.0091; P = 0.010), difference in − 2 log likelihood (P = 0.019), and categorical net reclassification improvement (4.14%; P = 0.004). Higher frequency and duration of Sauna bathing are each strongly, inversely, and independently associated with fatal CVD events in middle-aged to elderly males and females. The frequency of Sauna bathing improves the prediction of the long-term risk for CVD mortality.
-
cardiovascular and other health benefits of Sauna bathing a review of the evidence
Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Jari A Laukkanen, Setor K. KunutsorAbstract:Sauna bathing, an activity that has been a tradition in Finland for thousands of years and mainly used for the purposes of pleasure and relaxation, is becoming increasingly popular in many other populations. Emerging evidence suggests that beyond its use for pleasure, Sauna bathing may be linked to several health benefits, which include reduction in the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive diseases; nonvascular conditions such as pulmonary diseases; mortality; as well as amelioration of conditions such as arthritis, headache, and flu. The beneficial effects of Sauna bathing on these outcomes have been linked to its effect on circulatory, cardiovascular, and immune functions. It has been postulated that regular Sauna bathing may improve cardiovascular function via improved endothelium-dependent dilatation, reduced arterial stiffness, modulation of the autonomic nervous system, beneficial changes in circulating lipid profiles, and lowering of systemic blood pressure. This review summarizes the available epidemiological, experimental, and interventional evidence linking Finnish Sauna bathing and its effects on cardiovascular outcomes and other disease conditions on the basis of a comprehensive search for observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and non-randomized controlled trials from MEDLINE and EMBASE from their inception until February 24, 2018. An overview of the postulated biological mechanisms underlying the associations between Sauna bathing and its health benefits, areas of outstanding uncertainty, and implications for clinical practice is also provided.
Tanjaniina Laukkanen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
standalone Sauna vs exercise followed by Sauna on cardiovascular function in non naive Sauna users a comparison of acute effects
Health Science Reports, 2021Co-Authors: Earric Lee, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter Willeit, Joel Kostensalo, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract: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.
-
Sauna bathing reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism a prospective cohort study
European Journal of Epidemiology, 2019Co-Authors: Setor K. Kunutsor, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Jari A Laukkanen, Timo H Makikallio, Jussi KauhanenAbstract:Emerging evidence suggests there is an inverse and independent association between Sauna bathing and arterial thrombotic disease. However, the potential association between Sauna bathing and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not yet been investigated. We aimed to assess the prospective association between frequency of Sauna bathing and the risk of VTE. Baseline Sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2242 men aged 42–61 years without a history of VTE in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE. During a median follow-up of 24.9 years, 146 (6.5%) incident VTE events were recorded. In age-adjusted analyses, the HRs 95% (CIs) of VTE were 0.67 (0.47–0.96) and 0.95 (0.53–1.70) for participants who had 2–3 and ≥ 4 Sauna sessions per week respectively compared with participants who had ≤ 1 Sauna session per week. After further adjustment for several established risk factors including lifestyle factors, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.67 (0.46–0.96) and 0.92 (0.51–1.68) respectively. Having Sauna baths was associated with a reduced risk of VTE in a middle-aged male Caucasian population. Further studies in other populations and age groups are required to confirm these findings.
-
recovery from Sauna bathing favorably modulates cardiac autonomic nervous system
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2019Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Earric Lee, Peter Willeit, Jukka A Lipponen, Claudio Gil Soares De Araujo, Timo H Makikallio, Sanna PoikonenAbstract:Abstract Objective Sauna bathing is becoming a common activity in many countries and it has been linked to favorable health outcomes. However, there is limited data on the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to an acute Sauna exposure. Design We conducted a single-group, longitudinal study utilizing a pre-post design to examine acute effects of Sauna bathing on the autonomic nervous system as reflected by HRV. A total of 93 participants (mean [SD] age: 52.0 [8.8] years, 53.8% males) with cardiovascular risk factors were exposed to a single Sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73 °C; humidity: 10–20%) and data on HRV variables were collected before, during and after Sauna. Results Time and frequency-domain HRV variables were significantly modified (p Conclusions This study demonstrates that a session of Sauna bathing induces an increase in HR. During the cooling down period from Sauna bathing, HRV increased which indicates the dominant role of parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity of cardiac autonomic nervous system. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to show if HR and HRV changes underpins the long-term cardiovascular effects induced by regular Sauna bathing.
-
Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women a prospective cohort study
BMC Medicine, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Jari A Laukkanen, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter WilleitAbstract:Previous evidence indicates that Sauna bathing is related to a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in men. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Sauna habits and CVD mortality in men and women, and whether adding information on Sauna habits to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is associated with improvement in prediction of CVD mortality risk. Sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline in a sample of 1688 participants (mean age 63; range 53–74 years), of whom 51.4% were women. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to investigate the relationships of frequency and duration of Sauna use with CVD mortality. A total of 181 fatal CVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 15.0 years (interquartile range, 14.1–15.9). The risk of CVD mortality decreased linearly with increasing Sauna sessions per week with no threshold effect. In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, compared with participants who had one Sauna bathing session per week, HRs (95% CIs) for CVD mortality were 0.71 (0.52 to 0.98) and 0.30 (0.14 to 0.64) for participants with two to three and four to seven Sauna sessions per week, respectively. After adjustment for established CVD risk factors, potential confounders including physical activity, socioeconomic status, and incident coronary heart disease, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.75 (0.52 to 1.08) and 0.23 (0.08 to 0.65), respectively. The duration of Sauna use (minutes per week) was inversely associated with CVD mortality in a continuous manner. Addition of information on Sauna bathing frequency to a CVD mortality risk prediction model containing established risk factors was associated with a C-index change (0.0091; P = 0.010), difference in − 2 log likelihood (P = 0.019), and categorical net reclassification improvement (4.14%; P = 0.004). Higher frequency and duration of Sauna bathing are each strongly, inversely, and independently associated with fatal CVD events in middle-aged to elderly males and females. The frequency of Sauna bathing improves the prediction of the long-term risk for CVD mortality.
-
cardiovascular and other health benefits of Sauna bathing a review of the evidence
Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Jari A Laukkanen, Setor K. KunutsorAbstract:Sauna bathing, an activity that has been a tradition in Finland for thousands of years and mainly used for the purposes of pleasure and relaxation, is becoming increasingly popular in many other populations. Emerging evidence suggests that beyond its use for pleasure, Sauna bathing may be linked to several health benefits, which include reduction in the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive diseases; nonvascular conditions such as pulmonary diseases; mortality; as well as amelioration of conditions such as arthritis, headache, and flu. The beneficial effects of Sauna bathing on these outcomes have been linked to its effect on circulatory, cardiovascular, and immune functions. It has been postulated that regular Sauna bathing may improve cardiovascular function via improved endothelium-dependent dilatation, reduced arterial stiffness, modulation of the autonomic nervous system, beneficial changes in circulating lipid profiles, and lowering of systemic blood pressure. This review summarizes the available epidemiological, experimental, and interventional evidence linking Finnish Sauna bathing and its effects on cardiovascular outcomes and other disease conditions on the basis of a comprehensive search for observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and non-randomized controlled trials from MEDLINE and EMBASE from their inception until February 24, 2018. An overview of the postulated biological mechanisms underlying the associations between Sauna bathing and its health benefits, areas of outstanding uncertainty, and implications for clinical practice is also provided.
Hassan Khan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
standalone Sauna vs exercise followed by Sauna on cardiovascular function in non naive Sauna users a comparison of acute effects
Health Science Reports, 2021Co-Authors: Earric Lee, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter Willeit, Joel Kostensalo, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract: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.
-
recovery from Sauna bathing favorably modulates cardiac autonomic nervous system
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2019Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Earric Lee, Peter Willeit, Jukka A Lipponen, Claudio Gil Soares De Araujo, Timo H Makikallio, Sanna PoikonenAbstract:Abstract Objective Sauna bathing is becoming a common activity in many countries and it has been linked to favorable health outcomes. However, there is limited data on the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to an acute Sauna exposure. Design We conducted a single-group, longitudinal study utilizing a pre-post design to examine acute effects of Sauna bathing on the autonomic nervous system as reflected by HRV. A total of 93 participants (mean [SD] age: 52.0 [8.8] years, 53.8% males) with cardiovascular risk factors were exposed to a single Sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73 °C; humidity: 10–20%) and data on HRV variables were collected before, during and after Sauna. Results Time and frequency-domain HRV variables were significantly modified (p Conclusions This study demonstrates that a session of Sauna bathing induces an increase in HR. During the cooling down period from Sauna bathing, HRV increased which indicates the dominant role of parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity of cardiac autonomic nervous system. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to show if HR and HRV changes underpins the long-term cardiovascular effects induced by regular Sauna bathing.
-
Sauna bathing reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism a prospective cohort study
European Journal of Epidemiology, 2019Co-Authors: Setor K. Kunutsor, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Jari A Laukkanen, Timo H Makikallio, Jussi KauhanenAbstract:Emerging evidence suggests there is an inverse and independent association between Sauna bathing and arterial thrombotic disease. However, the potential association between Sauna bathing and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not yet been investigated. We aimed to assess the prospective association between frequency of Sauna bathing and the risk of VTE. Baseline Sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2242 men aged 42–61 years without a history of VTE in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE. During a median follow-up of 24.9 years, 146 (6.5%) incident VTE events were recorded. In age-adjusted analyses, the HRs 95% (CIs) of VTE were 0.67 (0.47–0.96) and 0.95 (0.53–1.70) for participants who had 2–3 and ≥ 4 Sauna sessions per week respectively compared with participants who had ≤ 1 Sauna session per week. After further adjustment for several established risk factors including lifestyle factors, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.67 (0.46–0.96) and 0.92 (0.51–1.68) respectively. Having Sauna baths was associated with a reduced risk of VTE in a middle-aged male Caucasian population. Further studies in other populations and age groups are required to confirm these findings.
-
Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women a prospective cohort study
BMC Medicine, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Jari A Laukkanen, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter WilleitAbstract:Previous evidence indicates that Sauna bathing is related to a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in men. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Sauna habits and CVD mortality in men and women, and whether adding information on Sauna habits to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is associated with improvement in prediction of CVD mortality risk. Sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline in a sample of 1688 participants (mean age 63; range 53–74 years), of whom 51.4% were women. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to investigate the relationships of frequency and duration of Sauna use with CVD mortality. A total of 181 fatal CVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 15.0 years (interquartile range, 14.1–15.9). The risk of CVD mortality decreased linearly with increasing Sauna sessions per week with no threshold effect. In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, compared with participants who had one Sauna bathing session per week, HRs (95% CIs) for CVD mortality were 0.71 (0.52 to 0.98) and 0.30 (0.14 to 0.64) for participants with two to three and four to seven Sauna sessions per week, respectively. After adjustment for established CVD risk factors, potential confounders including physical activity, socioeconomic status, and incident coronary heart disease, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.75 (0.52 to 1.08) and 0.23 (0.08 to 0.65), respectively. The duration of Sauna use (minutes per week) was inversely associated with CVD mortality in a continuous manner. Addition of information on Sauna bathing frequency to a CVD mortality risk prediction model containing established risk factors was associated with a C-index change (0.0091; P = 0.010), difference in − 2 log likelihood (P = 0.019), and categorical net reclassification improvement (4.14%; P = 0.004). Higher frequency and duration of Sauna bathing are each strongly, inversely, and independently associated with fatal CVD events in middle-aged to elderly males and females. The frequency of Sauna bathing improves the prediction of the long-term risk for CVD mortality.
-
Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in finnish men and women a prospective cohort study
Neurology, 2018Co-Authors: Setor K. Kunutsor, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Peter Willeit, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract:Objective To assess the association between frequency of Sauna bathing and risk of future stroke. Methods Baseline habits of Sauna bathing were assessed in 1,628 adult men and women aged 53–74 years (mean age, 62.7 years) without a known history of stroke in the Finnish Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study. Three Sauna bathing frequency groups were defined: 1, 2–3, and 4–7 sessions per week. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were estimated for incident stroke. Results During a median follow-up of 14.9 years, 155 incident stroke events were recorded. Compared with participants who had one Sauna bathing session per week, the age- and sex-adjusted HR (95% CI) for stroke was 0.39 (0.18–0.83) for participants who had 4–7 Sauna sessions per week. After further adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors and other potential confounders, the corresponding HR (95% CI) was 0.39 (0.18–0.84) and this remained persistent on additional adjustment for physical activity and socioeconomic status at 0.38 (0.18–0.81). The association between frequency of Sauna bathing and risk of stroke was not modified by age, sex, or other clinical characteristics ( p for interaction > 0.10 for all subgroups). The association was similar for ischemic stroke but modest for hemorrhagic stroke, which could be attributed to the low event rate (n = 34). Conclusions This long-term follow-up study shows that middle-aged to elderly men and women who take frequent Sauna baths have a substantially reduced risk of new-onset stroke.
Francesco Zaccardi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
standalone Sauna vs exercise followed by Sauna on cardiovascular function in non naive Sauna users a comparison of acute effects
Health Science Reports, 2021Co-Authors: Earric Lee, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter Willeit, Joel Kostensalo, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract: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.
-
recovery from Sauna bathing favorably modulates cardiac autonomic nervous system
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2019Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Earric Lee, Peter Willeit, Jukka A Lipponen, Claudio Gil Soares De Araujo, Timo H Makikallio, Sanna PoikonenAbstract:Abstract Objective Sauna bathing is becoming a common activity in many countries and it has been linked to favorable health outcomes. However, there is limited data on the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to an acute Sauna exposure. Design We conducted a single-group, longitudinal study utilizing a pre-post design to examine acute effects of Sauna bathing on the autonomic nervous system as reflected by HRV. A total of 93 participants (mean [SD] age: 52.0 [8.8] years, 53.8% males) with cardiovascular risk factors were exposed to a single Sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73 °C; humidity: 10–20%) and data on HRV variables were collected before, during and after Sauna. Results Time and frequency-domain HRV variables were significantly modified (p Conclusions This study demonstrates that a session of Sauna bathing induces an increase in HR. During the cooling down period from Sauna bathing, HRV increased which indicates the dominant role of parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity of cardiac autonomic nervous system. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to show if HR and HRV changes underpins the long-term cardiovascular effects induced by regular Sauna bathing.
-
Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women a prospective cohort study
BMC Medicine, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Jari A Laukkanen, Setor K. Kunutsor, Peter WilleitAbstract:Previous evidence indicates that Sauna bathing is related to a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in men. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Sauna habits and CVD mortality in men and women, and whether adding information on Sauna habits to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is associated with improvement in prediction of CVD mortality risk. Sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline in a sample of 1688 participants (mean age 63; range 53–74 years), of whom 51.4% were women. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to investigate the relationships of frequency and duration of Sauna use with CVD mortality. A total of 181 fatal CVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 15.0 years (interquartile range, 14.1–15.9). The risk of CVD mortality decreased linearly with increasing Sauna sessions per week with no threshold effect. In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, compared with participants who had one Sauna bathing session per week, HRs (95% CIs) for CVD mortality were 0.71 (0.52 to 0.98) and 0.30 (0.14 to 0.64) for participants with two to three and four to seven Sauna sessions per week, respectively. After adjustment for established CVD risk factors, potential confounders including physical activity, socioeconomic status, and incident coronary heart disease, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.75 (0.52 to 1.08) and 0.23 (0.08 to 0.65), respectively. The duration of Sauna use (minutes per week) was inversely associated with CVD mortality in a continuous manner. Addition of information on Sauna bathing frequency to a CVD mortality risk prediction model containing established risk factors was associated with a C-index change (0.0091; P = 0.010), difference in − 2 log likelihood (P = 0.019), and categorical net reclassification improvement (4.14%; P = 0.004). Higher frequency and duration of Sauna bathing are each strongly, inversely, and independently associated with fatal CVD events in middle-aged to elderly males and females. The frequency of Sauna bathing improves the prediction of the long-term risk for CVD mortality.
-
Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in finnish men and women a prospective cohort study
Neurology, 2018Co-Authors: Setor K. Kunutsor, Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Peter Willeit, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract:Objective To assess the association between frequency of Sauna bathing and risk of future stroke. Methods Baseline habits of Sauna bathing were assessed in 1,628 adult men and women aged 53–74 years (mean age, 62.7 years) without a known history of stroke in the Finnish Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study. Three Sauna bathing frequency groups were defined: 1, 2–3, and 4–7 sessions per week. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were estimated for incident stroke. Results During a median follow-up of 14.9 years, 155 incident stroke events were recorded. Compared with participants who had one Sauna bathing session per week, the age- and sex-adjusted HR (95% CI) for stroke was 0.39 (0.18–0.83) for participants who had 4–7 Sauna sessions per week. After further adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors and other potential confounders, the corresponding HR (95% CI) was 0.39 (0.18–0.84) and this remained persistent on additional adjustment for physical activity and socioeconomic status at 0.38 (0.18–0.81). The association between frequency of Sauna bathing and risk of stroke was not modified by age, sex, or other clinical characteristics ( p for interaction > 0.10 for all subgroups). The association was similar for ischemic stroke but modest for hemorrhagic stroke, which could be attributed to the low event rate (n = 34). Conclusions This long-term follow-up study shows that middle-aged to elderly men and women who take frequent Sauna baths have a substantially reduced risk of new-onset stroke.
-
acute effects of Sauna bathing on cardiovascular function
Journal of Human Hypertension, 2018Co-Authors: Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Hassan Khan, Francesco Zaccardi, Setor K. Kunutsor, Earric Lee, Peter Willeit, Jari A LaukkanenAbstract:Emerging evidence suggests beneficial effects of Sauna bathing on the cardiovascular system. However, the effects of Sauna bathing on parameters of cardiovascular function and blood-based biomarkers are uncertain. We aimed to investigate whether Sauna bathing induces changes in arterial stiffness, blood pressure (BP), and several blood-based biomarkers. We conducted an experimental study including 102 participants (mean age (SD): 51.9 (9.2) years, 56% male) who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Participants were exposed to a single Sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73 °C; humidity: 10–20%). Cardiovascular as well as blood-based parameters were collected before, immediately after, and after 30-min recovery. Mean carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity was 9.8 (2.4) m/s before Sauna and decreased to 8.6 (1.6) m/s immediately after Sauna (p < 0.0001). Mean systolic BP decreased after Sauna exposure from 137 (16) to 130 (14) mmHg (p < 0.0001) and diastolic BP from 82 (10) to 75 (9) mmHg (p < 0.0001). Systolic BP after 30 min recovery remained lower compared to pre-Sauna levels. There were significant changes in hematological variables during Sauna bathing. Plasma creatinine levels increased slightly from Sauna until recovery period, whereas sodium and potassium levels remained constant. This study demonstrates that Sauna bathing for 30 min has beneficial effects on arterial stiffness, BP, and some blood-based biomarkers. These findings may provide new insights underlying the emerging associations between Sauna bathing and reduced risk of cardiovascular outcomes.
