Abstract
Although sauna bathing causes various acute, transient cardiovascular and hormonal
changes, it is well tolerated by most healthy adults and children. Sauna bathing does
not influence fertility and is safe during the uncomplicated pregnancies of healthy
women. Some studies have suggested that long-term sauna bathing may help lower blood
pressure in patients with hypertension and improve the left ventricular ejection fraction
in patients with chronic congestive heart failure, but additional data are needed
to confirm these findings. The transient improvements in pulmonary function that occur
in the sauna may provide some relief to patients with asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Sauna bathing may also alleviate pain and improve joint mobility in patients with
rheumatic disease. Although sauna bathing does not cause drying of the skin—and may
even benefit patients with psoriasis—sweating may increase itching in patients with
atopic dermatitis. Contraindications to sauna bathing include unstable angina pectoris,
recent myocardial infarction, and severe aortic stenosis. Sauna bathing is safe, however,
for most people with coronary heart disease with stable angina pectoris or old myocardial
infarction. Very few acute myocardial infarctions and sudden deaths occur in saunas,
but alcohol consumption during sauna bathing increases the risk of hypotension, arrhythmia,
and sudden death, and should be avoided.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 5,
2000
Received in revised form:
September 5,
2000
Received:
November 4,
1999
Identification
Copyright
© 2001 Excerpta Medica Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
