Safety and efficacy of repeated sauna bathing in patients with chronic systolic heart failure: a preliminary report
This study, led by Hiromitsu Miyamoto and his team, looked at how sauna bathing at 60°C could help people with chronic heart failure (CHF). The researchers had 15 CHF patients, all in stable condition, take daily sauna sessions for four weeks. The results showed that sauna use was safe and helped improve heart function. The patients experienced lower blood pressure, better heart performance, and increased exercise ability. For example, they could walk longer distances and had higher levels of oxygen uptake during exercise. The sauna also helped lower levels of stress hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine, which can strain the heart.
The study concluded that regular sauna bathing could be a helpful addition to treatment for people with chronic heart failure. It improved heart health, made it easier to exercise, and even reduced the number of hospital visits. The benefits of sauna use seem to come from its ability to improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, and relieve stress on the heart. This research suggests that heat therapy through saunas could be a useful, non-drug way to support heart health. The study was conducted by a group of researchers focused on exploring alternative treatments for heart failure.
