Effects of sauna bath on the cardiovascular system
Journal Title: Rehabilitacja Medyczna - Year 2007, Vol 11, Issue 1
Abstract
Sauna is a form of biomedical regeneration consisting of consecutive exposure to two opposite thermal agents. Firstly, during sauna bath, a person is exposed to high temperature (ranging from 70 to100 °C) at low relative humidity. Secondly, thermal exposure is followed by body cooling. One sauna bath consists of two or three repeated cycles of heat exposure followed by cooling off. Sauna can be applied in sport, recreation and therapy. The aim of this publication is to present cardiovascular changes elicited by the sauna bath. High temperature induces cutaneous vasodilation and, consequently, an incerase in cutaneous blood flow. Myocardial contractility and heart rate increase. These changes lead to alterations of blood pressure and cardiac output. Abnormalities of the electrocardiogram pattern, changes in activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and blood rheological properties are observed. Cardiovascular responses to sauna bath depend both on the mode and intensity of warming and the applied methods of cooling. The risk of the sauna bath-related cardiovascular complications in healthy persons is small. Nevertheless, it is higher in individuals, who apply excessive heat exposure in order to reduce the body mass or combine sauna bathing with physical effort or alcohol consumption. However, sauna bathing in patients with cardiovascular disease should be used cautiously and preceded by individual assessment of potential risks, considering concomitant medication and the methods of both heat exposure and, especially, cooling off.
Authors and Affiliations
Anna Sawicka, Tomasz Brzostek, Robert Kowalski
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP82080
- DOI -
- Views 92
- Downloads 0
Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in early postpartum women
Aim of study: Diastasis recti abdominis is a widening of the linea alba leading to separation of the recti muscles. This abnormality concerns mainly women during their perinatal period. The objective of this study is to...
Badania akcelerometryczne wybranych punktów układu ruchu
Cel: Celem niniejszej pracy było określenie zmian przyspieszeń na różnych poziomach ciała podczas chodu.Materiał i metody: W badaniu wykorzystano trzyosiowy czujnik akcelerometryczny, który był mocowany do stóp, podudzi,...
Praktyka oparta na dowodach – zasady i kierunki rozwoju Evidence Based Practice w fizjoterapii
Założenia. Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) – „medycyna oparta na faktach naukowych” polega na integracji wiarygodnych danych naukowych, prawidłowego rozpoznania klinicznego oraz preferencji i wyborów pacjenta w podejmowani...
Assessment of female joggers and non-joggers forefoot loading pattern during push-off phase
Introduction: The distinctive modes of human locomotion are walking and its faster form running. The basic feature of gait cycle, the successive phases of swing and stance, is common for walking and running, however, the...
Testy sprawności czynnościowej chorych z POChP – propozycja zastosowania Wydłużonego Testu „Wstań i Idź” (ETGUG)
Badanie sprawności czynnościowej nie jest częstą praktyką w postępowaniu z chorymi na przewlekłą obturacyjną chorobę płuc (POChP). Test marszu 6-minutowego (6MWT) znajduje zastosowanie w diagnostyce i ewaluacji wyników r...