[Thermal therapy for the management of cardiovascular pathology].

This paper reports the results of analysis of the study on the effect of thermal therapy in the patients presenting with cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure, and myocardial infarction. It is shown that the correct application of the "Finnish" and infrared sauna taking into consideration specific clinical characteristics of the disease in question and with strict compliance to the relevant methodological recommendations can produce beneficial effects in the form of the improved endothelial function, reduced heart rate variability and oxidative stress as well as enhanced physical performance. It is concluded that full-scale studies in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine are needed to further improve the effectiveness of the thermal treatment of cardiovascular diseases and the reliability of the data obtained.

[Spa-based water procedures and complications in the course of their performance].

The scope of applications of spa-based water procedures have become considerably extended during the recent years; accordingly, the frequency of complications and accidents has increased. The present review considers the possible mechanisms underlying such complications and various factors promoting their development, such as the patients' age and chronic diseases, the use of pharmaceutical products affecting thermoregulation and cardiovascular function. Special attention is given to the influence of alcohol consumption on the frequency of complications, accidents, and sudden death associated with hyperthermal procedures, the possibility of infectious diseases and measures necessary for their prevention.

[Effect of general carbon dioxide baths on processes of remodeling and diastolic function of the heart in patients with ischemic heart disease after myocardial infarction]. / Vliianie obshchikh uglekislykh vann na protsessy remodelirovaniia i diastolicheskuiu funktsiiu serdtsa u bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa posle infarkta miokarda.

The trial included 63 postmyocardial infarction (PMI) men aged 40-65 years with cardiac failure (CF) NYHA functional class I-II and/or left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. The patients were randomized into two groups: the study group and the controls. The former received medication plus carbon dioxide baths, the latter received medication only. As shown by two-dimensional echocardiography there were no significant differences between the groups by LV function, volume, myocardial mass. In patients of the study group, ejection fraction increased in 75% patients, in controls--in 62%. In those who have taken baths ejection fraction increased if it was low before the treatment. Transmitral blood flow measured with spectral dopplerography indicated significant changes in diastolic function in the study group. Thus, balneotherapy with carbon dioxide baths significantly improves LV diastolic function and myocardial contractility in patients with impaired LV systolic function.