Some cardiovascular and haematologic effects of a single sauna bathing in women

ABSTRACT

Twenty healthy females were exposed to a single sauna sitting at 100C for 30 minutes. Three blood samples were drawn from each woman one before, one immediately after and the last four days after sauna bathing. Similarly, three measurements of body weight, temperature, pulse and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded. The results of this study showed that immediately after sauna, body temperature and pulse rate were highly significantly elevated, while mean arterial blood pressure was highly significantly lowered and body weight did not show any significant change. There were high significant elevation of total leukocytic count and neutrophils, significant elevation of monocytes, significant decrease of eosinophils and basophils, and nonsignificant decrease of lymphocytes. Serum sodium and chloride showed highly significant elevations, while serum potassium was highly significantly lowered. Total serum proteins tended to increase due to increased globulins. Four days later, erythrocytic count, hemoglobin level and hematocrit value, which were not significantly changed immediately after sauna, showed significant elevations. The other parameters almost returned to the pre-sauna levels except for neutrophils and monocytes as regards platelets, they showed no significant difference between pre-sauna and post-sauna measurements. On conclusion, sauna proved to be beneficial for healthy persons and it may be a safe line of treatment of refractory anemia as it stimulates erythropoiesis. On the other hand, it should be avoided in patients with critical cardiovascular diseases. It is also concluded, that sauna is not an effective mean for weight reduction