Faculty mentor/PI email address
bavishic1@rowan.edu
Keywords
heart failure, sauna therapy, cardiovascular health, ejection fraction, brain natriuretic peptide, heat therapy
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is one of the hallmark diseases that represent a decline of cardiovascular function. Heart failure is characterized by a decrease in the ability of the heart to pump blood throughout the body, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, and swelling. HF is shown to decrease quality of life and increase mortality. Traditional treatments include pharmacology, lifestyle modifications, and surgery. Among the treatments, deliberate heat exposure in the form of dry saunas has been highlighted as a potential treatment option for HF. Dry saunas, especially infrared saunas, are shown to increase body temperature which improves circulation and decreases the stress on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, it has shown to improve low BNP levels and ejection fraction that are associated with HF. This review assesses and summarizes the evidence for deliberate heat exposure as a treatment option for HF.
A literature review was conducted scanning three databases: PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The primary outcomes of the study were ejection fraction (EF) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). All studies were downloaded and screened using Rayyan, while deleting duplicates. Studies were included if they were related to sauna or heat therapy, cardiovascular health, randomized controlled trials, and included data on EF and BNP. Studies were excluded if they were not related to sauna or heat therapy, case reports, reviews, and non-English texts. Analysis was conducted using SPSS statistics and reported as Cohen’s d.
Four final studies were used in the literature review. Two studies recorded values for BNP and EF at 2 weeks of sauna treatment, while the other two recorded their values at 4 weeks of sauna treatment. All studies had sauna temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius, where participants were under sauna therapy for 15 minutes. Cohen’s d for BNP was -0.69 (P = 0.28), and Cohen’s d for EF was 0.24 (P = 0.38). Three studies showed a decrease in BNP, while one showed an increase. Two studies showed an increase in EF, while two showed reductions in EF.
Although statistically insignificant, analysis showed a moderate reduction in BNP and a small increase in EF when participants with heart failure were exposed to 15 minutes of sauna therapy. Since in heart failure the heart works harder and makes more BNP, a reduction in BNP helps treat heart failure since it means the heart is not working as hard. An increase in EF helps pump more blood out in an already weak heart in failure.
Disciplines
Alternative and Complementary Medicine | Cardiovascular Diseases | Medicine and Health Sciences
Effect of Sauna on Cardiovascular Health in Patients With Heart Failure
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is one of the hallmark diseases that represent a decline of cardiovascular function. Heart failure is characterized by a decrease in the ability of the heart to pump blood throughout the body, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, and swelling. HF is shown to decrease quality of life and increase mortality. Traditional treatments include pharmacology, lifestyle modifications, and surgery. Among the treatments, deliberate heat exposure in the form of dry saunas has been highlighted as a potential treatment option for HF. Dry saunas, especially infrared saunas, are shown to increase body temperature which improves circulation and decreases the stress on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, it has shown to improve low BNP levels and ejection fraction that are associated with HF. This review assesses and summarizes the evidence for deliberate heat exposure as a treatment option for HF.
A literature review was conducted scanning three databases: PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The primary outcomes of the study were ejection fraction (EF) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). All studies were downloaded and screened using Rayyan, while deleting duplicates. Studies were included if they were related to sauna or heat therapy, cardiovascular health, randomized controlled trials, and included data on EF and BNP. Studies were excluded if they were not related to sauna or heat therapy, case reports, reviews, and non-English texts. Analysis was conducted using SPSS statistics and reported as Cohen’s d.
Four final studies were used in the literature review. Two studies recorded values for BNP and EF at 2 weeks of sauna treatment, while the other two recorded their values at 4 weeks of sauna treatment. All studies had sauna temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius, where participants were under sauna therapy for 15 minutes. Cohen’s d for BNP was -0.69 (P = 0.28), and Cohen’s d for EF was 0.24 (P = 0.38). Three studies showed a decrease in BNP, while one showed an increase. Two studies showed an increase in EF, while two showed reductions in EF.
Although statistically insignificant, analysis showed a moderate reduction in BNP and a small increase in EF when participants with heart failure were exposed to 15 minutes of sauna therapy. Since in heart failure the heart works harder and makes more BNP, a reduction in BNP helps treat heart failure since it means the heart is not working as hard. An increase in EF helps pump more blood out in an already weak heart in failure.