Reader response: Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in Finnish men and women
YaoYu, MD, Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Jilin University
Wei-TongGuo, PhD, Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Jilin University
Xiu-LiYan, MD, Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Jilin University
Zhen-NiGuo, MD, Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Jilin University
YiYang, MD, PhD, Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Jilin University
Published May 10, 2018
The article by Kunutsor et al. evaluated the correlation between sauna bathing patterns and risk of stroke. [1] The study population was made up of healthy elderly people without a known history of stroke, at an average (SD) age of 62.7 (6.5). People at this age, especially accompanied with other cerebrovascular risk factors, are very likely to have major cervical or intracranial vessel stenosis. [2,3] In the event of a heated situation such as sauna, hypoperfusion or even ischemic stroke may be induced due to large fluid loss and severe vessel stenosis. [4] People with or without vessel stenosis could have a different intracranial hemodynamic correlation with sauna bathing. It is understandable that vascular evaluation may be difficult to achieve, as the research is a community-based study. However, the status of intracranial vasculature, which could be an important variable of the relationship between sauna and risk of stroke, should be included into the analysis.
1. Kunutsor S K, Khan H, Zaccardi F, et al. Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in Finnish men and women: A prospective cohort study. Neurology Epub 2018 May 2.
2. De Weerd M, Greving J P, Hedblad B, et al. Prevalence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general population: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Stroke 2010;41:1294-1297.
3. Suri MF, Johnston SC. Epidemiology of intracranial stenosis. J Neuroimaging 2009;19 Suppl 1:11S-16S.
4. Mead GE, O’Neill PA. Carotid disease in acute stroke: a review. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 1999;8:197-206.
The article by Kunutsor et al. evaluated the correlation between sauna bathing patterns and risk of stroke. [1] The study population was made up of healthy elderly people without a known history of stroke, at an average (SD) age of 62.7 (6.5). People at this age, especially accompanied with other cerebrovascular risk factors, are very likely to have major cervical or intracranial vessel stenosis. [2,3] In the event of a heated situation such as sauna, hypoperfusion or even ischemic stroke may be induced due to large fluid loss and severe vessel stenosis. [4] People with or without vessel stenosis could have a different intracranial hemodynamic correlation with sauna bathing. It is understandable that vascular evaluation may be difficult to achieve, as the research is a community-based study. However, the status of intracranial vasculature, which could be an important variable of the relationship between sauna and risk of stroke, should be included into the analysis.
1. Kunutsor S K, Khan H, Zaccardi F, et al. Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in Finnish men and women: A prospective cohort study. Neurology Epub 2018 May 2.
2. De Weerd M, Greving J P, Hedblad B, et al. Prevalence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general population: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Stroke 2010;41:1294-1297.
3. Suri MF, Johnston SC. Epidemiology of intracranial stenosis. J Neuroimaging 2009;19 Suppl 1:11S-16S.
4. Mead GE, O’Neill PA. Carotid disease in acute stroke: a review. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 1999;8:197-206.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.