Exploring the Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing

NCT06875466 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: Sauna
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand, with hypertension being a major risk factor that remains difficult to manage with medication. Finnish sauna bathing (FSB), a widely practiced form of heat therapy, has been linked to lower risks of CVD, stroke, and overall mortality. Traditionally, FSB is combined with cold water immersion (CWI), but the combined effects of these therapies remain under explored. While sauna research often focuses on physiological aspects, this study aims to take a holistic approach to understanding its impact on cardiovascular health.

Conditions

Blood Pressure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure

  This measure will be taken before and after the intervention. There are four sections of the questionnaire. The first two sections use the scale 1 - 5 where 1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = occasionally, 4 = regularly, 5 = constantly. A higher score means a worse outcome. Section three uses the scale 1 - 5 where 1 = not at all, 2 = not really, 3 = sometimes, 4 = yes, 5 = yes, absolutely; in this section a higher score means a better outcome. Section four uses a scale 1 - 5 where 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = not sure, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree; a higher score means a better outcome.

  8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Quality of life questionnaire

  8 weeks

• PROMIS Sleep Questionnaire

  8 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Sauna Bathing

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive the sauna bathing treatment (1 session per week for 8 weeks)

Device: Sauna bathing

Interventions

Sauna bathing DEVICE

Finnish sauna bathing, participants will sauna once per week for 8 weeks

Sauna Bathing

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• SBP: 110-179 mmHg; DBP 60-99 mmHg)
• y old.
• Participants who are prescribed anti-hypertensive or dyslipidaemia medications will be included but must be on a stable dose for at least 30 days.

You may not qualify if:

• stable or unstable angina
• recent myocardial infarction (\<3 months)
• orthostatic hypotension
• severe aortic stenosis
• pregnancy
• acute infectious diseases
• rheumatoid arthritis in the acute inflammatory phase
• fever for any reason
• any other medical condition deemed a risk.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Centre for Health: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Centre for Health

Tauranga, 3110, New Zealand

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Anna Rolleston, PhD

  The Centre for Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Tasha Burton, MSc

CONTACT

0220180557; tasha@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

Anna Rolleston, PhD

CONTACT

anna@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2025
• First Posted: March 13, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2025
• Study Completion: July 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NZ (1)