Effect of repeated alternative thermal stress on the physiological and body composition characteristics of young women sporadically using sauna

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of repeated alternative thermal stress on the physiological parameters of young women sporadically used sauna. Materials and method: Twenty young women (age: 24.2±2.1 years) were exposed to four sauna sessions of 12 minutes each (temperature: 90-91°C; humidity: 14-16 %) with four 6-minute cool-down breaks including 2-minute cold water immersion (temperature: 9-11oC). Physiological characteristics were monitored before and after the 72-minute experiment. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (systolic - SBP, diastolic - DBP), heart rate (HR), forehead temperature, and body composition were determined on each subject and dependent t-test were performed on each variable. Results: During the 72-minute experiment forehead temperature increased significantly (p