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Posted by Andrew Lawrason on April 22, 2024 April 22, 2024 Uncategorized
Home Uncategorized
Creatine in the Digestive Tract
Nutritional Hormone Balancing: Real or a media based hoax?
Posted by Andrew Lawrason on April 22, 2024 April 22, 2024 Uncategorized
Andrew Lawrason Bio112 Human Anatomy and Physiology Don Larson Steam Project Essay: How Does the Sauna Help the Heart/Cardiovascular System? Sauna bathing has been increasingly recognized for its potential health benefits, especially regarding cardiovascular health. I am a frequent user of the sauna, as it provides lots of relaxation and helps me with soreness after a workout, but I have heard so much on how it is good for your health, particularly in the heart/cardiovascular system, and I wanted to research it myself for this project. I read through two different studies, both providing insight on how the sauna can be beneficial to the health of the heart and cardiovascular system. Regular sauna sessions have been found to promote reduced risk of sudden cardiac death, coronary heart disease, and overall cardiovascular mortality, all of which contribute to an average of 17.9 million deaths across the world every year. That is more than any other cause of death globally. The reduction in risk of cardiovascular mortality that regular visits to the sauna promotes is primarily attributed to significant improvements in cardiovascular function induced by the physiological effects of heat exposure during sauna sessions. One of the main benefits of bathing in the sauna is the induced hyperthermic condition, which leads to an increased heart rate. This is similar to the effects of moderate exercise, it’s in a way like going for a run, but while you are sitting down in the sauna. This helps improve cardiac output and over time may contribute to better cardiovascular health. Also, the heat stress from sauna use causes vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels. This reduces vascular resistance and lowers blood pressure, easing the workload on the heart. Another outcome that results from regular sauna use is increased blood flow to the skin and extremities, a reduction in arterial stiffness, and improved endothelial function. Endothelial function is essential for vascular health, and its improvement is directly linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases. These changes are not only beneficial for the heart but also contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is a major factor in cardiovascular risk. For those with heart conditions, sauna bathing enhances left ventricular function and improves the arterial compliance of the aorta, offering potential therapeutic benefits for many heart conditions. One cool thing that the papers I researched stated was that even individuals with heart failure and hypertension can safely use the sauna, provided they use it under appropriate guidance and consideration of their health status. A study focusing on the relationship between sauna habits and cardiovascular disease mortality found that individuals who engaged in sauna sessions four to seven times per week had a significantly lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events when compared to those who sauna once a week, indicating that along with sauna use in general, the more a person uses the sauna the lower their risk of cardiovascular disease is, along with greater benefits for the health of the heart and cardiovascular system. The many mechanisms through sauna use that contribute to these health benefits include improvement of endothelial function, reduction in arterial stiffness, modulation of the autonomic nervous system, and a decrease in blood pressure. These mechanisms all contribute to improved cardiovascular function and reduced risk of fatal events. Incorporating sauna bathing habits into traditional cardiovascular risk assessments could also enhance the prediction of CVD mortality, as it has been shown to have a significant impact on cardiovascular health. To summarize, use of the sauna not only provides a relaxing experience, but also contributes to substantial health benefits, especially for the heart and vascular system. The physiological adaptations initiated by regular sauna use: increased heart rate, improved vascular function, and lowered blood pressure, all play a role in maintaining and enhancing cardiovascular and heart health. References Laukkanen, T., Kunutsor, S. K., Khan, H., Willeit, P., Zaccardi, F., & Laukkanen, J. A. (2018). Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women: A prospective cohort study. BMC Medicine, 16(1), 219. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1198-0 Laukkanen, J. A., & Kunutsor, S. K. (2024). The multifaceted benefits of passive heat therapies for extending the healthspan: A comprehensive review with a focus on Finnish sauna. Temperature (Austin), 11(1), 27-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2023.2300623 World Health Organization. (n.d.). Cardiovascular diseases. https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases#tab=tab_1

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