Exploring the Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Sauna bathing.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Blood Pressure. Basic parameters: 18 years — 70 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- New Zealand
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Exploring the Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing - a Pilot Study
Overview
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand, with hypertension being a major risk factor that remains difficult to manage with medication. Finnish sauna bathing (FSB), a widely practiced form of heat therapy, has been linked to lower risks of CVD, stroke, and overall mortality. Traditionally, FSB is combined with cold water immersion (CWI), but the combined effects of these therapies remain under explored. While sauna research often focuses on physiological aspects, this study aims to take a holistic approach to understanding its impact on cardiovascular health.
Detailed description
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Aotearoa New Zealand. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for CVD, with nearly half of older adults in Aotearoa diagnosed with hypertension, and it being relatively intractable to attempts thus far at treatment via antihypertensive medications.
Finnish sauna bathing (FSB) is one form of heat therapy, characterised by the use of a wood-fired sauna in which water is thrown over hot stones to create steam. In Finland, the sauna is not only a common therapy but also deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric, with many households having their own sauna. Traditionally, saunas were communal places where people came together to relax and share experiences thus fostering social connections. Lifelong sauna use is associated with markedly lower risk for chronic diseases such as; CVD, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Integral to the FSB experience is the practice of cold water immersion (CWI) which typically involves a plunge into icy waters, or exposure to freezing temperatures, in between sauna bathing.
Sauna bathing is typically researched with a physiological / biomedical lens and in isolation, that is, the additive effects of sauna bathing and cold-induced adaptations from cold-water immersion are not well understood, highlighting a gap in this research area. Additionally, the health benefits of sauna are wide ranging, therefore our focus is to use a holistic lens to explore the impact of sauna bathing cardiovascular health.
Interventions
- Device Sauna bathing
Finnish sauna bathing, participants will sauna once per week for 8 weeks
Primary outcome measures
- 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure [Time frame: 8 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Quality of life questionnaire [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- PROMIS Sleep Questionnaire [Time frame: 8 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- SBP: 110-179 mmHg; DBP 60-99 mmHg)
- 18 - 70 y old.
- Participants who are prescribed anti-hypertensive or dyslipidaemia medications will be included but must be on a stable dose for at least 30 days.
Exclusion criteria
- stable or unstable angina
- recent myocardial infarction (<3 months)
- orthostatic hypotension
- severe aortic stenosis
- pregnancy
- acute infectious diseases
- rheumatoid arthritis in the acute inflammatory phase
- fever for any reason
- any other medical condition deemed a risk.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
New Zealand · 1 center
- The Centre for Health — Tauranga
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06875466 · Sauna