Exercise and Sauna on Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health
Condition: Cardiovascular Risk Factor; Heat Stress; Sedentary Behavior
MeSH terms: Heat Stress Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The study aims to investigate the effects of including regular heat therapy when included to
      exercise. Specifically, participants in the sauna intervention group will undergo 15 minutes
      of sauna exposure immediately after a 50-minute session of exercise, 3 times a week, while
      participants in the exercise intervention group will follow only the same exercise protocol.

      The 50-minute exercise session consists of 20 minutes of moderate intensity strength
      exercise, followed by 30 minutes of moderate-vigorous aerobic exercise on stationary bikes.
      This exercise intervention protocol was selected in order to meet and adhere to the
      recommended physical activity guidelines.
    

Detailed description: 
      The main purpose of the experiment is to investigate the cardiovascular modulations of sauna
      use with respect to vascular compliance and hemodynamics. The investigators seek to
      understand the long-term adaptations of regular sauna bathing in conjunction with exercise,
      particularly in sedentary populations with cardiovascular risk factors.

      Of particular interests are the cardiovascular adaptations of regular sauna bathing when used
      in conjunction with exercise training; which meets the recommended minimum of current
      physical activity guidelines. Recent studies have shown that long-term sauna use with
      exercise is more effective than sauna use alone in patients with chronic heart failure.
      However several questions pertaining to regular exercise in combination with sauna use remain
      to be answered, as experimental data in the general population is still lacking.

      This research project aims to find out the differences (if any) in cardiovascular and
      hemodynamic-related outcome parameters, between regular exercise according to the minimum
      recommended guidelines, and the same exercise program with an additional regular 15 minute
      sauna session post exercise.

      The training intervention will last for 8 weeks, with each session consisting of 20 minutes
      of moderate intensity resistance training, followed by 30 minutes of aerobic training.
      Participants in the exercise only group rested in the training area for 15 minutes while the
      exercise and sauna participants went to the sauna for 15 minutes.

      Temperature of the sauna room was increased by 5 degrees celsius every fortnight starting
      from 65 degrees celsius; during the final 2 weeks of the intervention the sauna temperature
      was at 80 degrees celsius. (65, 70, 75, 80). Participants were told that they could leave the
      sauna room anytime they felt uncomfortable or if they wish to.
    

Intervention name(s): Exercise; Sauna
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): 50 minutes of exercise, consisting of 20 minutes of resistance followed by 30 minutes of aerobic, three times a week for eight weeks.; 15 minutes of sauna exposure immediately after exercise intervention, three times a week for eight weeks.
Other intervention name(s): Exercise training; Sauna bathing; Sauna exposure
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: 3 groups of which; 1 serves as a control group, 1 exercise group, and 1 exercise and sauna group
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Basic Science