ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE
Far-infrared saunas are beneficial for the treatment of congestive heart failure,
hypertension and obesity. As such, they may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular
(CV) health in those with type 2 diabetes. Our objective is to examine whether or
not there are quantitative CV benefits from infrared sauna use.
METHODS
The intervention consisted of 20-minute, thriceweekly infrared sauna sessions, over
a period of 3 months. The following CV risk factors were measured: weight, height,
waist circumference, blood pressure (BPtru), glycated hemoglobin (A1C), fasting blood
glucose and cholesterol profile. Baseline study parameters were measured within one
week prior to commencing sauna sessions. Post-intervention measurements were collected
between 1 and 3 days after the last sauna session.
RESULTS
Systolic blood pressure decreased by 6.4 mm Hg (124±12 vs. 118±15 mm Hg, 95% CI 0.01-12.71 p=0.05), and there was a trend toward decreased waist circumference (115.0±13.4 vs. 112.7±11.9 cm, 95% CI 0.4-5.1 p=0.10). All other measurements did not change significantly. There were no adverse
events. Study completion rate was 75%.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that infrared sauna use may be beneficial for lowering blood pressure
and waist circumference. Subject adherence to infrared sauna use is greater than adherence
to other lifestyle interventions. The combination of favourable compliance/adherence,
as well as effectiveness in improving blood pressure and possibly waist circumference,
makes infrared sauna therapy an attractive lifestyle option.
RÉSUMÉ
OBJECTIF
Les saunas à infrarouge lointain sont utiles pour le traitement de l'insuffisance
cardiaque congestive, de l'hypertension et de l'obésité. Il se pourrait donc qu'ils
aient un effet salutaire sur la santé cardiovasculaire des personnes atteintes de
diabète de type 2. Notre objectif était de déterminer si l'utilisation d'un sauna
à infrarouge avait des bienfaits quantitatifs sur la santé cardiovasculaire.
MÉTHODES
L'intervention consistait en l'utilisation d'un sauna à infrarouge pendant 20 minutes
trois fois par semaine pendant une période de trois mois. On a mesuré objectivement
les facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire suivants : poids, taille, tour de taille,
tension artérielle (tensiometre BPtru), hémoglobine glycosylee (HbA1c), glycémie à jeun et bilan du cholésterol. Les valeurs de départ ont ete obtenues
dans la semaine précédant la première utilisation du sauna et les valeurs finales,
d'un à trois jours après la dernière utilisation du sauna.
RÉSULTATS
La tension arterielle systolique a baissé de 6,4 mm Hg (124±12 par rapport à 118±15 mm Hg; p=0,05, IC de 95 % : 0,01 a 12,71) et il y a eu une tendance à la réduction du tour
de taille (115,0±13,4 par rapport à 112,7±11,9 cm; p=0,10, IC de 95 % : 0,4 à 5,1). Les autres paramètres n'ont pas changé de façon significative.
Il n'y a pas eu d'effets indésirables. Soixante-quinze pour cent des sujets ont terminé
l'étude.
CONCLUSIONS
Les résultats obtenus donnent à penser que l'utilisation d'un sauna à infrarouge pourrait
contribuer à la réduction de la tension artérielle et du tour de taille. Les sujets
sont plus fidèles à l'utilisation d'un sauna à infrarouge qu'a d'autres interventions
axées sur le mode de vie. Ensemble, la fidélité a l'utilisation d'un sauna a infrarouge
et l'efficacite de celui-ci pour la réduction de la tension artérielle et, possiblement,
du tour de taille font de l'utilisation d'un sauna a infrarouge une option thérapeutique
attrayante.
KEYWORDS
MOTS CLES
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© 2010 Canadian Diabetes Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
