Effects of regular sauna bathing in conjunction with exercise on cardiovascular function: a multi-arm, randomized...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Regular exercise and sauna bathing individually benefit cardiovascular health.
• Limited data exists on the combined effects of exercise and sauna bathing on cardiovascular adaptations in the general population.
• Sedentary adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors often have suboptimal cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and elevated blood pressure (BP).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of regular exercise combined with post-exercise sauna bathing (EXS) versus regular exercise alone (EXE) on cardiovascular function in adults with CVD risk factors.
• To evaluate the impact of these interventions on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), blood pressure (BP), fat mass, total cholesterol, and arterial stiffness.
• To determine if sauna bathing offers supplementary benefits when added to a guideline-based exercise program.

Main Methods:

• A multi-arm randomized controlled trial involving 47 participants aged 49±9 with low physical activity and at least one CVD risk factor.
• Participants were randomized into three groups: exercise plus sauna (EXS), exercise only (EXE), and control (CON) for 8 weeks.
• Primary outcomes included BP and CRF; secondary outcomes included fat mass, total cholesterol, and arterial stiffness.

Main Results:

• Regular exercise (EXE) improved CRF and fat mass compared to the control group (CON).
• The exercise plus sauna group (EXS) showed greater improvements in CRF and significant reductions in systolic BP and total cholesterol compared to the exercise-only group (EXE).
• No significant differences in BP were observed between EXE and CON, but EXS demonstrated a notable decrease in systolic BP.

Conclusions:

• Regular exercise effectively improves CRF and body composition in sedentary adults with CVD risk factors.
• Combining sauna bathing with regular exercise provides supplementary benefits for CRF, systolic BP, and total cholesterol levels.
• Sauna bathing is a beneficial lifestyle intervention that complements exercise for enhancing cardiovascular health and reducing cardiovascular risk factors.