RESEARCH PAPER
Effect of Finnish sauna baths on the white blood cells count in physically active young males
1
Instytut Nauk Biomedycznych, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego, Kraków
Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2014;20(1):70-75
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Sauna treatments, often used in sports and recreation, are now of interest to a wide range of researchers. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of single and repeated Finnish sauna baths on plasma volume changes and quantitative alteration in leukocytes in physically active young males.
Material and Methods:
The study enrolled 16 males aged 20–23, who had taken 10 Finnish sauna baths (within a onemonth period of time) at a temperature of about 90°C, and humidity of 5–20%. Each bath was composed of three 15-minute attendances, with 2-minute cooling between heat exposures. Fasting blood samples were taken 6 times: before the first and tenth sauna, 10 minutes after the first and tenth sauna, and after 24 hours. The haematological variables were adjusted for plasma volume changes (%Δ PV).
Results:
The study showed a decrease in body weight and plasma volume of the subjects after both the first and the last sauna. The highest average loss of plasma volume was recorded after the last sauna, as compared with the first treatment. There were no changes in the total number of leukocytes after the first or the tenth sauna. The increase in total white blood cell count was found 24 hours after the first and tenth sauna, but it was not significant. The number of neutrophils rose and the numbers of lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils declined after the first and last sauna.
Conclusions:
The loss of plasma volume and weight loss due to heavy sweating was greater after 10 saunas, compared to a single treatment. A sauna does not alter the total number of leukocytes considering correction for plasma volume changes due to dehydration. A shift in the neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio in favour of neutrophils was noted, probably due to the effect of growth hormone and adrenaline.
Sauna treatments, often used in sports and recreation, are now of interest to a wide range of researchers. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of single and repeated Finnish sauna baths on plasma volume changes and quantitative alteration in leukocytes in physically active young males.
Material and Methods:
The study enrolled 16 males aged 20–23, who had taken 10 Finnish sauna baths (within a onemonth period of time) at a temperature of about 90°C, and humidity of 5–20%. Each bath was composed of three 15-minute attendances, with 2-minute cooling between heat exposures. Fasting blood samples were taken 6 times: before the first and tenth sauna, 10 minutes after the first and tenth sauna, and after 24 hours. The haematological variables were adjusted for plasma volume changes (%Δ PV).
Results:
The study showed a decrease in body weight and plasma volume of the subjects after both the first and the last sauna. The highest average loss of plasma volume was recorded after the last sauna, as compared with the first treatment. There were no changes in the total number of leukocytes after the first or the tenth sauna. The increase in total white blood cell count was found 24 hours after the first and tenth sauna, but it was not significant. The number of neutrophils rose and the numbers of lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils declined after the first and last sauna.
Conclusions:
The loss of plasma volume and weight loss due to heavy sweating was greater after 10 saunas, compared to a single treatment. A sauna does not alter the total number of leukocytes considering correction for plasma volume changes due to dehydration. A shift in the neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio in favour of neutrophils was noted, probably due to the effect of growth hormone and adrenaline.
REFERENCES (25)
1.
Pilch W, Szyguła Z, Torii M, Hackney AC. The influence of hyperthermia exposure in sauna on thermal adaptation and select endocrine responses in women. Med Sport. 2008; 12(3): 103–108.
2.
Prystupa T, Wołyńska A, Ślężyński J. The effects of finish Sauna on hemodynamics of the circulatory system in men and women. J Human Kine. 2009; 22: 61–68.
3.
Pilch W, Szyguła Z, Torii M. Effect of the sauna- induced thermal stimuli of various intensity on the thermal and hormonal metabolism in women. Biol Sport. 2007; 24(4): 357–373.
4.
Pilch W. Wpływ podwyższenia temperatury ciała na zmiany wybranych wskaźników fizjologicznych i status antyoksydacyjny osocza biegaczy długodystansowych i mężczyzn nietrenujących. Studia i monografie nr 59. Kraków Wydawnictwo AWF, 2009.
5.
Biro S, Masuda A, Kihara T, Tei C. Clinical implications of thermal therapy in lifestyle-related diseases. Exp Biol Med. 2003; 228: 1245 1249.
6.
Hannuksela ML, Ellahham S. Benefits and risks of sauna bathing. Am J Med. 2001; 110: 118–126.
7.
Solonin IuG, Katsiuba EA. Thermoregulation and blood circulation in adults during short term exposure to extreme temperatures. Fiziol Cheloveka. 2003; 29(2): 67–74.
8.
Gleeson M, Greenhaff PL, Leiper JB, Marlin DJ, Maugham RJ, Pitsiladis Y. Odwodnienie, nawadnianie i wysiłek w gorącym otoczeniu. Med Sport. 2001; 5(2): 99–109.
9.
Pokora I. Wpływ krótkotrwałej aklimacji cieplnej na reakcje organizmu na wysiłek ekscentryczny i koncentryczny u mężczyzn. Katowice Wydawnictwo AWF, 2009.
10.
Szyguła Z. Wszystko o saunie – wpływ na organizm i wydolność sportowca. Sport Wyczyn. 1995; 5–6: 53–62.
11.
Nguyen Y, Naseer N, Frishman WH. Sauna as a therapeutic option for cardiovascular disease. Cardiol Rev. 2004; 12(6): 321–324.
12.
Crinnion W. Components of practical clinical detox programs—sauna as a therapeutic tool. Altern Ther Health Med. 2007; 13(2):154–156.
13.
Johansen LB, Videbak R, Hammerum M, Norsk P. Underestimation of plasma volume changes in humans by hematocrit/hemoglobin method. Am J Physiol. 1998; 274(1): 126–130.
14.
Kraemer RR, Brown BS. Alterations in plasma-volume-corrected blood components of marathon runners and concomitant relationship to performance. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1986; 55: 579–584.
15.
Hanninen O. The sauna-stimulating and relaxing. News Physiol Sci. 1986; 1: 179–181.
16.
Pokora I, Kwaśna K, Poprzęcki S. Odnowa zasobów wodnych po wysiłku u odwodnionych termicznie mężczyzn. Post Med Lot. 2005; 2(11): 133–139.
17.
Wade CE. Hormonal regulation of fluid homeostasis during and following exercise. W: Warren MP, Constantini NW, (red.). Contemporary endocrinology: sports endocrinology. Totowa, NJ: Humana press Inc; 2000. p. 207–225.
18.
Chorąży M, Kwaśny K. Wpływ sauny jako odnowy biologicznej na zachowanie się tętna i ciśnienia krwi u ludzi o rożnym stadium wytrenowania. Zeszyty Medyczno-Naukowe AWF w Katowicach. 2005; 19: 249–258.
19.
Simonson SR, Jackson CGR. Leucocytosis occurs in response to resistance exercise in men. J Strength Cond Res. 2004; 18(2): 266–271.
20.
Natale VM, Brenner IK, Moldoveanu AI, Vasiliou P, Shek P, Shephard RJ. Effects of three different types of exercise on blood leukocyte count during and following exercise. Sao Paulo Med J./Rev Paul Med. 2003; 121(1): 9–14.
21.
Pilch W, Szarek M, Gryka-Nowaczyk D, Kaczmarek M, Mirek W. The influence of physical effort in warm conditions on changing the white blood cells number in training and non-training men. Antropomotoryka 2010; 20 (51): 61–68.
22.
Giannopoulos K, Karaś P, Tabarkiewicz J, Roliński J, Moszyńska A. The assessment of dendritic cell subsets and lymphocyte subpopulations after taking a finnish sauna. Pol J Environ Stud. 2005; 14: 109–113.
23.
Pedersen BK, Hoffman-Goetz L. Exercise and the immune system: regulation, integration and adaptation. Physiol Rev. 2000; 80 (3): 1055 1081.
24.
Kappel M, Hansen MB, Diamant M, Jorgensen JO, Gyhrs A, Pedersen BK. Effects of an acute bolus growth hormone infusion on the human immune system. Horm Metab Res. 1993; 25: 579– 585.
25.
Blum N, Blum A. Beneficial effects of sauna bathing for heart failure patients. Exp Clin Cardiol. 2007; 12(1): 29–32.
| eISSN: | 2084-4905 |
| ISSN: | 2083-4543 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
