Far-Infrared Therapy

Information to support Claims

J Am Coll Cardiol, 2001; 38:1083-1088
© 2001 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation

CLINICAL STUDY
Repeated far infrared thermal therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors

OBJECTIVES
We sought to determine whether sauna therapy, a thermal vasodilation therapy, improves endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking

Table 2 Changes in Clinical Parameters After Two Weeks of Sauna Treatment

Before Sauna

After Two Weeks of Sauna

p Value

Body weight (kg) 75.2 ± 9.9 74.9 ± 9.9 <0.05
Heart rate (beats/min) 68 ± 10 68 ± 10 NS
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) 128 ± 18 124 ± 17 <0.01
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) 77 ± 17 72 ± 16 <0.05
Hematocrit () 47.6 ± 2.9 47.2 ± 2.3 NS
Total cholesterol (mg/dl) 214 ± 44 208 ± 34 NS
Triglyceride (mg/ml) 268 ± 327 221 ± 159 NS
HDL cholesterol (mg/dl) 51 ± 11 50 ± 11 NS
Uric acid (mg/dl) 6.8 ± 1.8 6.6 ± 1.5 NS
Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dl) 99 ± 25 94 ± 16 <0.05
TBARS (nmol/ml) 2.8 ± 0.6 2.9 ± 0.6 NS
Resting arterial diameter (mm) 3.9 ± 0.3 3.9 ± 0.3 NS
Reactive hyperemia () 398 ± 170 352 ± 215 NS
FMD () 4.0 ± 1.7 5.8 ± 1.3 <0.001
NTG () 18.7 ± 4.2 18.1 ± 4.1 NS

Values are expressed as the mean ± SD.
HDL cholesterol = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TBARS = thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; %FMD = percentage of flow-mediated dilation; %NTG = percentage of nitroglycerin-induced dilation.

Effects of sauna therapy on body weight, heart rate and BP. The body weight decreased significantly (75.2 ± 9.9 kg to 74.9 ± 9.9 kg, p < 0.05), while the heart rate did not change (68 ± 10 beats/min to 68 ± 10 beats/min, p = NS) after two weeks of sauna therapy. Both systolic and diastolic BP decreased significantly (systolic BP: 128 ± 18 mm Hg to 124 ± 17 mm Hg, p < 0.01; diastolic BP: 77 ± 17 mm Hg to 72 ± 16 mm Hg, p < 0.05) after two weeks of sauna therapy (Table 2).

Figure 2 Changes in individual percentage of flow-mediated dilation (%FMD) after two weeks of sauna therapy. p < 0.001 vs. before sauna therapy.

Effects of a single sauna therapy on blood flow of the brachial artery. To assess the degree of blood flow increase of the brachial artery after a single sauna therapy, we measured blood flow at rest and during sauna therapy in eight patients with coronary risk factors. Blood flow of the brachial artery significantly increased by 68% after 15 min of sauna therapy (188 ± 36 ml/min to 313 ± 55 ml/min, p < 0.0001) and remained elevated by 51% 30 min after sauna therapy (188 ± 36 ml/min to 275 ± 80 ml/min, p < 0.05) (Fig. 3).
Figure 3 Changes in blood flow of the brachial artery during a single sauna therapy in eight subjects with coronary risk factors. Blood flow significantly increased by 68% after 15 min of sauna therapy and remained elevated by 51% 30 min after sauna therapy. p < 0.0001 vs. before sauna therapy; **p < 0.05 vs. before sauna therapy.

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In an interesting parallel, exercise has also been demonstrated to improve endothelial dysfunction in healthy older men (55), in patients with chronic heart failure (56) and in patients with the polymetabolic syndrome (57). It has been reported that four weeks of cycle training for 30 min three times per week significantly increases the basal release of NO in healthy volunteers, and a 30-min cycling induces a threefold increase in forearm blood flow and a 15% increase in blood viscosity (58). They suggest that elevated shear stress contributes to the increased basal release of NO. These phenomena are similar to those induced by sauna therapy in this study. Sauna therapy has an advantage in that it is applicable to subjects who are unable to exercise.

Published ahead of print on January 31, 2007
J Am Soc Nephrol 18: 985-992, 2007
© 2007 American Society of Nephrology
doi: 10.1681/ASN.2006050534
Far-Infrared Therapy: A Novel Treatment to Improve Access Blood Flow and Unassisted Patency of Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis Patients

In conclusion, FIR therapy, a noninvasive and convenient therapeutic modality, can improve Qa and survival of the AVF in HD patients through both its thermal and its nonthermal effects.

J Am Coll Cardiol, 2002; 39:754-759
© 2002 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
CLINICAL STUDY: HEART FAILURE
Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure
RESULTS: Clinical symptoms were improved in 17 of 20 patients after two weeks of sauna therapy. The %FMD after two-week sauna treatment significantly increased from the baseline value, whereas the %NTG-induced dilation did not. Concentrations of BNP after the two-week sauna treatment decreased significantly. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the change in %FMD and the percent improvement in BNP concentrations in the sauna-treated group. In contrast, none of the variables changed at the two-week interval in the nontreated group.
CONCLUSIONS: Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial function, resulting in an improvement in cardiac function and clinical symptoms.

Experimental Biology and Medicine 228:1245-1249 (2003)
© 20 OBESITY AND DIABETES: PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
Clinical Implications of Thermal Therapy in Lifestyle-Related Diseases It was found that repeated sauna therapy (60°C for 15 min) improved hemodynamic parameters, clinical symptoms, cardiac function, and vascular endothelial function in patients with congestive heart failure. Vascular endothelial function is impaired in subjects with lifestyle-related diseases, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and smoking. Sauna therapy also improved endothelial dysfunction in these subjects, suggesting a preventive role for atherosclerosis. In animal experiments, sauna therapy increases mRNA and protein levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in aortas. In normal-weight patients with appetite loss, repeated sauna therapy increased plasma ghrelin concentrations and daily caloric intake and improved feeding behavior. In obese patients, the body weight and body fat significantly decreased after 2 weeks of sauna therapy without increase of plasma ghrelin concentrations. On the basis of these data, sauna therapy may be a promising therapy for patients with lifestyle-related diseases.

(Circulation. 1995;91:2582-2590.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.
Acute Hemodynamic Improvement by Thermal Vasodilation in Congestive Heart Failure
Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure showed no significant change during or after the warm-water bath or sauna. With respect to diastolic pressure, however, a significant decline occurred 30 minutes after warm-water bathing, although there was no significant change during the bath itself. Diastolic pressure declined significantly during the sauna and then declined further 30 minutes after.