Acute effects of Finnish sauna and cold-water immersion on haemodynamic variables and autonomic nervous system activity in patients with heart failure. (29th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Radtke, Thomas; Poerschke, Daniel; Wilhelm, Matthias; Trachsel, Lukas D; Tschanz, Hansueli; Matter, Friederike; Jauslin, Daniel; Saner, Hugo; Schmid, Jean-Paul
• Is Part Of: European journal of preventive cardiology. Volume 23:Number 6(2016)
• Page Start: 593
• Page End: 601
• Publication Date: 2020-08-29
• Subjects: Heat exposure -- cardiac output -- sympathetic nervous system activity -- heart failure -- cold-water immersion; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cardiac patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1177/2047487315594506
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-4873

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The haemodynamic response to Finnish sauna and subsequent cold-water immersion in heart failure patients is unknown. Methods: Haemodynamic response to two consecutive Finnish sauna (80℃) exposures, followed by a final head-out cold-water immersion (12℃) was measured in 37 male participants: chronic heart failure ( n = 12, 61.8 ± 9.2 years), coronary artery disease ( n = 13, 61.2 ± 10.6 years) and control subjects ( n = 12, 60.9 ± 8.9 years). Cardiac output was measured non-invasively with an inert gas rebreathing method prior to and immediately after the first sauna exposure and after cold-water immersion, respectively. Blood pressure was measured before, twice during and after sauna. The autonomic nervous system was assessed by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability. Total power, low-frequency and high-frequency components were evaluated. The low frequency/high frequency ratio was used as a marker of sympathovagal balance. Sauna and cold-water immersion were well tolerated by all subjects. Results: Cardiac output and heart rate significantly increased in all groups after sauna and cold-water immersion ( p < 0.05), except for coronary artery disease patients after sauna exposure. Systolic blood pressure during sauna decreased significantly in all groups with a nadir after 6 min (all p < 0.05). Cold-water immersion significantly increased systolic blood pressure in all groups ( p < 0.05). No change in the low/high frequency ratio was found in chronic heart failure patients. In coronary artery disease patients and controls a prolonged increase in low frequency/high frequency ratio was observed after the first sauna exposure. Conclusions: Acute exposure to Finnish sauna and cold-water immersion causes haemodynamic alterations in chronic heart failure patients similarly to control subjects and in particular did not provoke an excessive increase in adrenergic activity or complex arrhythmias.