Infrared Sauna — A Hot Route to Health?

Aim of the study: Sauna bath has potential as a lifestyle treatment modality for heart failure (HF). It is important to analyze the current evidence to help suggest paths of future study and potential for clinical application.

Results: In the meta-analysis, exposure to an infrared sauna bath in 60°C for 15 minutes, followed by a 30-minute rest in warm environment, five times a week for 2 to 4 weeks, was associated with a significant reduction in B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiothoracic ratio, and an improvement in left-ventricular ejection fraction. There was no significant effect on left-ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left atrial diameter, systolic blood pressure, or diastolic blood pressure. The strength of evidence varied from moderate to insufficient. Infrared sauna bath was associated with short-term improvement in cardiac function. More evidence is needed about long-term effects of sauna bath and the effects of a Finnish sauna on cardiovascular health among patients with HF or other cardiovascular diseases.

Aim of the study: To study the effects of infrared (IR) Sauna, a form of total-body hyperthermia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients were treated for a 4-week period with a series of eight IR treatments. Seventeen RA patients and 17 AS patients were studied.

Results: In the RA and AS patients, pain, stiffness, and fatigue also showed clinical improvements during the 4-week treatment period, but these did not reach statistical significance. No relevant changes in disease activity scores were found, indicating no exacerbation of disease activity. In conclusion, infrared treatment has statistically significant short-term beneficial effects and clinically relevant period effects during treatment in RA and AS patients without enhancing disease activity. IR has good tolerability and no adverse effects.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to investigate effects of a single infrared sauna (IRS) session on post-exercise recovery of neuromuscular performance, autonomic nervous system function, subjective sleep quality, and muscle soreness.

Results: PAS. Muscle soreness was less severe, and perceived recovery was higher after IRS compared to PAS (p < 0.01). Post-exercise IRS attenuated the drop in explosive performance and decreased subjective muscle soreness after resistance training, which may enhance mood, readiness, and physical performance of an athlete. A single IRS session had no detrimental effects on recovery of the autonomic nervous system.

Aim of the study: Although it is known that geriatric syndrome is associated with the development of frailty, it is not known whether an amelioration of geriatric syndrome also improves shared risk factors and frailty.

Results: After the FILTS program, there were significant differences in usual walking speed, peak oxygen uptake, Geriatric Depression Scale-15, health-related quality of life and the severity of several geriatric symptoms. Of the 67 participants, 18 showed improvements in their J-CHS frailty score, 47 showed no change and two showed reductions. Linear regression analysis showed that the change in the numeric rating of the coldness of extremities (B = -0.105, P = 0.013) and the cumulative numeric rating for geriatric syndromes (B = 0.044, P < 0.001) were independent determinants of the change in the J-CHS score. A 3-month FILTS program ameliorates geriatric syndrome, the severity of frailty and frailty related indices in older Japanese people. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 892-898.

Aim of the study: Vascular dysfunction and exercise intolerance contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related cardiovascular disease. Passive heat exposure provides a physiological stimulus for beneficial vascular adaptations and improvements in exercise capacity but has not yet been investigated in CKD.

Results: There were no significant changes in kidney function or biomarkers of acute kidney injury following HT. In this pilot study, a single bout of passive heat exposure acutely improved vascular function and exercise capacity in patients with CKD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first known study to examine the acute vascular, renal, and exercise response to a single bout of passive heat exposure in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Macrovascular function, microvascular function, and exercise capacity were acutely greater after a single session of passive heating, without any effect on kidney function or markers of kidney injury. These preliminary pilot findings could inform future clinical trials of chronic heat therapy for cardiovascular health in CKD.

Aim of the study: Decreased quality of life in diabetes is associated with poor health outcomes. Far-infrared sauna treatments improve the quality of life for those with chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and congestive heart failure. The objective of this study is to determine whether far-infrared saunas have a beneficial effect on quality of life in those with type II diabetes.

Results: Physical health, general health, and social functioning indices of the SF-36v2 improved. Visual Analogue Scales for stress and fatigue improved. Far-infrared sauna use maybe associated with improved quality of life in people with type II diabetes mellitus. Uptake of infrared saunas use is greater than the uptake of other lifestyle interventions.

Aim of the study: Chronic alcohol consumption leads to a range of neuropathological changes. Far-infrared (FIR) therapy is a non-invasive thermal intervention that may influence systemic hemodynamics and recovery-related processes; however, its potential role in neurological recovery in alcohol dependence remains insufficiently characterized.

Results: conventional withdrawal alone enhanced brain regions linked to cognition and sensorimotor function, such as the cingulate gyrus and hippocampus. The FIR group, however, showed additional increases in gray matter volume in key areas like the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and insula. On MoCA tests, the FIR group consistently scored higher, with differences at baseline and after intervention approaching statistical significance. These findings suggest that while abstinence promotes brain reorganization, FIR therapy may provide additional support for neuroplasticity and cognitive stabilization, aiding in the structural recovery of key brain regions affected by Alcohol dependence. This study is preliminary in nature due to the modest sample size and the non-randomized design. Larger randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are required to confirm the robustness and clinical significance of the observed effects.