Joel Kahn, MD Cardiac Longevity Center

Over the last two decades, I've treated patients withadvanced heart disease, and I've seen many innovations in medications,surgeries, and devices. But there is still an enormous toll on quality andquantity of life. 

Heart disease is a great model to testother approaches to healing as even studies with small groups of patients may showbenefits of therapy quickly. 

One of the treatments which has been a relative secret but needs to be outednow is sauna therapy for heart health. And not just any type of sauna heat.Doctors in Japan have been working for over 20 years testing the benefits ofinfrared dry sauna therapy in some of the sickest heart and vascular patients,and they've published nearly 20 research articles showing this is a majorbreakthrough. 

They've used a technique called waontherapy, from the Japanese words wa for soothing and on forwarmth, or so called soothing warmth therapy. The way it works: patients sit inan infrared sauna set at 60° C (140° F) for 15 minutes, followed by restingoutside the sauna for 30 minutes, wrapped in towels. People are encouraged todrink water to compensate for the perspiration. Results showed improved  functionof the cells that line the arteries and the blood flow they carry. 

Here in the U.S., a 2005clinical study by the University of Missouri Kansas City showed that Sunlighten’sfar infrared saunas could lower blood pressure through a program of 30 minuteinfrared sauna session 3 times per week. The study concluded that Sunlighten infrared sauna therapy dilated blood vessels and reduced the volume of theirinner lining, thus increasing circulation to promote healthy blood pressure.

And what can infrared therapy do in heartpatients that might apply to your general health?  A lot! First it is important to understand that the infrared spectrumconsists of near (NIR), mid (MIR), and far (FIR) waves, each with distinctcharacteristics, frequency ranges and health benefits. 

Farinfrared therapy enhances detoxification.
We live in a sea of toxins. Luckily there are steps we can take to moreeffectively remove these toxins, and the use of FIR saunas is one powerfulmethod for doing so. The Environmental Protection Agency has shown that saunatherapy increases excretion of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium) andfat-soluble chemicals like PCBs, PBBs, and HCBs.  Only Sunlighten far infrared saunas have beenshown to increasecore temperature for effective detoxification.  

Farinfrared therapy can help you lose weight. 
When it comes to burning calories with infrared heat, Sunlightensaunas were clinically shown to dramatically aid inweight loss. Results from a 2009 study indicated that Sunlighten saunas arebeneficial for lowering weight and waist circumference in just a 3-monthperiod. And for those who are sedentary due to medical conditions such asosteoarthritis, cardiovascular or respiratory problems, results were even moreprofound.

Mid infrared therapy improves exerciseability and flexibility. 

Midinfrared heat works by penetrating joints, muscles and tissues, increasingcirculation and speeding oxygen flow. By reducing soreness on nerve endings,infrared heat reduces muscle spasms and helps the body heal itself naturally.  A 2013 study conducted at the AuburnUniversity at Montgomery compared stretching in a Sunlighten mid infrared session comparedto a typical training room environment.  Participants completed a seriesof hamstring stretches in random order with 48 hours separating thesessions.  Results showed that acute flexibility increased up to 3x in thesauna than without!  Benefits to the increased range of motion includejoint mobility, less friction in the joints, enabling of joint function todiminish stiffness and joint relaxation. 

Near infrared is the newest anti-agingtool.

Nearinfrared produced from LED lights help restore skin to a youthfulappearance.  A study published in The Journal of Cosmetic and LaserTherapy showed significant improvements in skin appearance after just 12 weeksof sauna skin therapy using near-infrared technology. Participants experienceda reduction in wrinkles and crow’s feet, as well as improved overall skin tone,including softness, smoothness, elasticity, clarity and firmness. 

Near infrared therapy can boost cell health.
Better bloodcirculation means more toxins flow from the cellular level to the skin’ssurface to improve cell health, aid in muscle recovery and strengthen theimmune system.  Sunlighten’sresearch-backed near infrared heating technologycan strengthen the immune system. In fact, a NASA study showed this same nearinfrared therapy, delivered by LEDs deep into body tissue, can quadruple cellhealth and tissue growth.

If infrared therapyis so beneficial in heart patients why haven’t you heard of it? And why isn’tit used more? 

In my opinion, it's partly due to the fact that many doctors aren't familiarwith the strong data supporting it, and partly due to the fact that low-techtreatments such as this one get buried by expensive and glitzy therapies thatmay not prove to be beneficial. 

Patients have used health accounts to cover the cost of sessions or even to buytheir own units so it can be in reach of many people.  My personal recommendation are Sunlighten saunasbecause of all the benefits mentioned above. They are offering my patients FREE SHIPPING through June 30th, 2016.  

Isit beneficial for those of us avoiding heart disease?  I cannot promiseit, but as my mother used to say when I was a child about the healingproperties of chicken soup, it couldn’t hurt!

Please Note: Above statements are not written by Health Realizations nor the opinion of Health Realizations