Infrared Sauna Therapy: How it Benefits Your Heart

In the second part of our Sauna Series, we’ll talk about how saunas can benefit heart health.

Finnish Attitudes Towards Saunas

The Finnish culture endorses regular sauna use.  And researchers noted that Finnish men died less often from heart disease. Several studies that followed over two thousand regular sauna users for more than 20 years found that the risk of dying from sudden cardiac death decreased by 63%. The study did control for other factors that might have contributed to this phenomenon. 

Other studies have found improvements in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).  These particular studies looked at Waon therapy, a type of far-infrared sauna therapy.

The Benefits

How does sauna therapy provide these benefits? When we sit in the heat, our bodies undergo heat stress. 

Heat stress causes adaptions in our bodies that lead to these benefits. Our body’s cardiovascular responses to heat stress include:

·      Increased cardiac output (our hearts pump out more blood)

·      Reduced peripheral vascular resistance (our vessels dilate)

·      Improved markers of cardiac function (our hearts work better)

Heat stress causes other changes that end up benefiting the heart:

·      Reduced stress hormones

·      Lower cholesterol

·      Increased anti-oxidant effects (improved cell repair)

 Most studies found that these benefits were most pronounced when subjects used sauna therapy at least 4 times/week. 

The Recovery Lounge at PFP 

At the Pittsburgh Fitness Project, we have three medical-grade infrared saunas available to aid in your recovery and promote heart health.

 Check with your provider before starting any new health regimen.  And schedule your free recovery day visit to try out this great therapy.    

References:

Hussain, J. et al. (2018). Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 

Chuwa, T. et al. (2016) Waon therapy for managing chronic heart failure – Results from a multicenter prospective randomized Waon-CHF study.  Circulation Journal

Shinsato, T. et al. (2010). Waon therapy mobilizes CD34+ cells and improves peripheral arterial disease. Journal of Cardiology.