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Laukkanen T, Lipponen J, Kunutsor SK, Zaccardi F, Araújo CGS, Mäkikallio TH, Khan H, Willeit P, Lee E, Poikonen S, Tarvainen M, Laukkanen JA. Recovery from sauna bathing favorably modulates cardiac autonomic nervous system. Complement Ther Med 2019; 45:190-197. [PMID: 31331560 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sauna bathing is becoming a common activity in many countries and it has been linked to favorable health outcomes. However, there is limited data on the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to an acute sauna exposure. DESIGN We conducted a single-group, longitudinal study utilizing a pre-post design to examine acute effects of sauna bathing on the autonomic nervous system as reflected by HRV. A total of 93 participants (mean [SD] age: 52.0 [8.8] years, 53.8% males) with cardiovascular risk factors were exposed to a single sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73 °C; humidity: 10-20%) and data on HRV variables were collected before, during and after sauna. RESULTS Time and frequency-domain HRV variables were significantly modified (p < 0.001) by the single sauna session, with most of HRV variables tending to return near to baseline values after 30 min recovery. Resting HR was lower at the end of recovery (68/min) compared to pre-sauna (77/min). A sauna session transiently diminished the vagal component, whereas the cooling down period after sauna decreased low frequency power (p < 0.001) and increased high frequency power in HRV (p < 0.001), favorably modulating the autonomic nervous system balance. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that a session of sauna bathing induces an increase in HR. During the cooling down period from sauna bathing, HRV increased which indicates the dominant role of parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity of cardiac autonomic nervous system. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to show if HR and HRV changes underpins the long-term cardiovascular effects induced by regular sauna bathing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanjaniina Laukkanen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Central Finland Health Care District, Department of Internal Medicine, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jukka Lipponen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Setor K Kunutsor
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Musculoskeletal Research Unit, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Learning & Research Building (Level 1), Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
| | - Francesco Zaccardi
- Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester General Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Timo H Mäkikallio
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hassan Khan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Peter Willeit
- Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Earric Lee
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | - Mika Tarvainen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari A Laukkanen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Central Finland Health Care District, Department of Internal Medicine, Jyväskylä, Finland; Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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de Geus EJC, Gianaros PJ, Brindle RC, Jennings JR, Berntson GG. Should heart rate variability be "corrected" for heart rate? Biological, quantitative, and interpretive considerations. Psychophysiology 2019; 56:e13287. [PMID: 30357862 PMCID: PMC6378407 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Metrics of heart period variability are widely used in the behavioral and biomedical sciences, although somewhat confusingly labeled as heart rate variability (HRV). Despite their wide use, HRV metrics are usually analyzed and interpreted without reference to prevailing levels of cardiac chronotropic state (i.e., mean heart rate or mean heart period). This isolated treatment of HRV metrics is nontrivial. All HRV metrics routinely used in the literature exhibit a known and positive relationship with the mean duration of the interval between two beats (heart period): as the heart period increases, so does its variability. This raises the question of whether HRV metrics should be "corrected" for the mean heart period (or its inverse, the heart rate). Here, we outline biological, quantitative, and interpretive issues engendered by this question. We provide arguments that HRV is neither uniformly nor simply a surrogate for heart period. We also identify knowledge gaps that remain to be satisfactorily addressed with respect to assumptions underlying existing HRV correction approaches. In doing so, we aim to stimulate further progress toward the rigorous use and disciplined interpretation of HRV. We close with provisional guidance on HRV reporting that acknowledges the complex interplay between the mean and variability of the heart period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eco J. C. de Geus
- Department of Biological PsychologyVrije UniversiteitAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Peter J. Gianaros
- Departments of Psychology and PsychiatryUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvania
| | - Ryan C. Brindle
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience ProgramWashington and Lee UniversityLexingtonVirginia
| | - J. Richard Jennings
- Departments of Psychology and PsychiatryUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvania
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