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Review
. 2009 Jul;55(7):691-6.

Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence

Richard Beever  1
Affiliations
Review

Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence

Richard Beever. Can Fam Physician. 2009 Jul.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To review the literature about the health benefits of far-infrared sauna (FIRS) use.

Quality of evidence: A search of Web of Science, EBSCO, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid HealthSTAR, and EMBASE using the terms far-infrared and sauna, refined by limiting the search to studies of humans published in English, yielded 9 relevant papers (level I or level II evidence).

Main message: Far-infrared saunas are approved by the Canadian Standards Association and are sold to the public. The manufacturers claim numerous health benefits; however, the published evidence to substantiate these claims is limited. Four papers support the use of FIRS therapy for those with congestive heart failure and 5 papers support its use for those with coronary risk factors.

Conclusion: There is limited moderate evidence supporting FIRS efficacy in normalizing blood pressure and treating congestive heart failure; fair evidence, from a single study, supporting FIRS therapy in chronic pain; weak evidence, from a single study, supporting FIRS therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome; weak evidence, from a single study, supporting FIRS therapy for obesity; and consistent fair evidence to refute claims regarding the role of FIRSs in cholesterol reduction.

OBJECTIF: Réviser la littérature sur les avantages pour la santé de l’utilisation des saunas à infrarouge lointain (SIRL).

QUALITÉ DES PREUVES: Une recherche dans Web of Sciences. EBSCO, Ovid MEDLINE, OVID HealthSTAR et EMBASE à l’aide des termes far-infrared et sauna, en se limitant aux études chez l’humain publiées en anglais, a identifié 9 articles pertinents (preuves de niveau I ou II).

PRINCIPAL MESSAGE: Les saunas à infrarouge lointain sont approuvés par l’Association canadienne de normalisation et sont en vente libre. Les manufacturiers leur attribuent plusieurs avantages pour la santé; toutefois, les données de la littérature à l’appui de ces prétentions sont limitées. Quatre articles soutiennent l’utilisation de SIRL dans le traitement de l’insuffisance cardiaque et 5 articles la soutiennent chez les sujets avec facteurs de risque coronarien.

CONCLUSION: Il existe des données limitées d’importance modérée suggérant que les SIRL sont efficaces pour normaliser la tension artérielle et traiter l’insuffisance cardiaque; des données assez bonnes d’une seule étude en faveur du traitement de la douleur chronique par SIRL; des données faibles d’une seule étude pour l’utilisation du SIRL dans le syndrome de fatigue chronique; des données faibles d’une seule étude préconisant l’utilisation du SIRL pour l’obésité; et des preuves assez solides contredisant les prétentions au sujet du rôle des SIRL dans la réduction du cholestérol.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Light spectrum used in far-infrared saunas
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Soleil Saunas [advertisement] Just for Canadian Doctors. 2006 Winter;:2.
    1. Soleil Saunas. Sunlight Saunas micron output/infrared frequency chart [webpage] Peachland, BC: Soleil Saunas; 2006. [Accessed 2009 May 27]. Available from: www.soleil-saunas.com/what_is.htm.
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    1. Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Ikeda Y, et al. Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002;39(5):754–9. - PubMed
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