Exploring the Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing

NCT ID: NCT06875466

Last Updated: 2025-03-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 12 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-31
• Study Completion Date: 2025-07-31

Brief Summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand, with hypertension being a major risk factor that remains difficult to manage with medication. Finnish sauna bathing (FSB), a widely practiced form of heat therapy, has been linked to lower risks of CVD, stroke, and overall mortality. Traditionally, FSB is combined with cold water immersion (CWI), but the combined effects of these therapies remain under explored. While sauna research often focuses on physiological aspects, this study aims to take a holistic approach to understanding its impact on cardiovascular health.

Detailed Description

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Aotearoa New Zealand. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for CVD, with nearly half of older adults in Aotearoa diagnosed with hypertension, and it being relatively intractable to attempts thus far at treatment via antihypertensive medications.

Finnish sauna bathing (FSB) is one form of heat therapy, characterised by the use of a wood-fired sauna in which water is thrown over hot stones to create steam. In Finland, the sauna is not only a common therapy but also deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric, with many households having their own sauna. Traditionally, saunas were communal places where people came together to relax and share experiences thus fostering social connections. Lifelong sauna use is associated with markedly lower risk for chronic diseases such as; CVD, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Integral to the FSB experience is the practice of cold water immersion (CWI) which typically involves a plunge into icy waters, or exposure to freezing temperatures, in between sauna bathing.

Sauna bathing is typically researched with a physiological / biomedical lens and in isolation, that is, the additive effects of sauna bathing and cold-induced adaptations from cold-water immersion are not well understood, highlighting a gap in this research area. Additionally, the health benefits of sauna are wide ranging, therefore our focus is to use a holistic lens to explore the impact of sauna bathing cardiovascular health.

Conditions

Blood Pressure

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Sauna Bathing

Participants receive the sauna bathing treatment (1 session per week for 8 weeks)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sauna bathing

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Finnish sauna bathing, participants will sauna once per week for 8 weeks

Interventions

Sauna bathing

Finnish sauna bathing, participants will sauna once per week for 8 weeks

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• SBP: 110-179 mmHg; DBP 60-99 mmHg)
• 18 - 70 y old.
• Participants who are prescribed anti-hypertensive or dyslipidaemia medications will be included but must be on a stable dose for at least 30 days.

Exclusion Criteria

• stable or unstable angina
• recent myocardial infarction (<3 months)
• orthostatic hypotension
• severe aortic stenosis
• pregnancy
• acute infectious diseases
• rheumatoid arthritis in the acute inflammatory phase
• fever for any reason
• any other medical condition deemed a risk.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The Centre for Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Anna Rolleston, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Centre for Health

Locations

The Centre for Health

Tauranga, , New Zealand

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

New Zealand

Central Contacts

Tasha Burton, MSc

Role: CONTACT

tasha@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

0220180557

Anna Rolleston, PhD

Role: CONTACT

anna@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

Facility Contacts

Anna Rolleston, PhD

Role: primary

anna@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

Tasha Burton, MSc

Role: backup

tasha@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

Other Identifiers

Sauna

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id