Das Potenzial der Sauna im Rahmen der Prävention - eine Übersicht neuerer Erkenntnisse

Abstract

Die Möglichkeiten der Sauna im Rahmen von Präventionsmaßnahmen aber auch der Therapie werden bei Weitem nicht ausgeschöpft. In diesem Beitrag werden neuere Erkenntnisse vorgestellt, die das präventive und therapeutische Potenzial von Sauna bei einer Reihe von Zivilisationserkrankungen aufzeigen. Als Beispiele seien die Abhärtung gegen grippale Infekte und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen genannt sowie der Einsatz im Rahmen von Schmerztherapie z.B. bei der Fibromyalgie. Sauna ist aber auch eine empfehlenswerte Intervention zur Stressprophylaxe und bei Stoffwechselerkrankungen wie dem Diabetes Typ 2.

The Contribution of Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Reduce Antibiotic Use: A Narrative Review of Health Concepts, Prevention, and Treatment Strategies

“…In athletes (intermediate trackers compared to untrained) the immune system is more stimulated with an increased number of white blood cells, lymphocyte, neutrophil, and basophil counts after the sauna session. The main working mechanisms of becoming more resilient (among others to infections) after sauna are optimization of temperature and circulation regulation of skin and mucous membranes, vegetative stabilization with decrease of sympathetic tone (stress reduction), stimulation of nonspecific resistance parameters, and strengthening the antioxidative protection potential and thus the defense against free radicals [91]. Two RCTs demonstrated that balneotherapy is beneficial for stress and fatigue reduction in comparison with music or no therapy group [92] and reduces distress by reducing the health risk posed by distress (by 26%), by increasing the health resources (by 11%), and by reducing probability of general health risk (by 18%) [93].…”

Wärme, Kälte und Abwehr von Krankheitserregern

“…Mit Sicherheit ist die Sauna allgemein eines der effektivsten Präventionsmittel nicht nur gegen grippale Infekte [10]. Die Effekte werden besonders gut sein, wenn man von Kindheit an daran gewohnt wird.…”

Is sauna bathing protective of sudden cardiac death? A review of the evidence

“…Though there is no active function of skeletal muscles during sauna baths, it has been reported that the response produced by an ordinary sauna bath corresponds to that produced by moderate or high intensity PA, such as walking. 44 Sauna bathing appears to work comparably to PA by systemic blood pressure reduction; 41 reduction in oxidative stress 45,46 and inflammation; 42,47 improvement in endothelial function; [48][49][50] positive alteration in levels of circulating lipids; 51,52 improvement in glucose metabolism; 53 improved arterial stiffness, arterial compliance, and intima media thickness; 36,45,[54][55][56] and improvement in the cardiorespiratory system 57 as well as CV function 31,33,58 . Some early evidence indicates that sauna bathing improves cardiac autonomic nervous system balance, leading to an increase in vagal tone and a decrease in sympathetic tone, with positive modulations in heart rate variability during the recovery…”