The most deadly diseases in America are linked to Atheroscleorosis.(1) Atherosclerosis may not have any symptoms until one unsuspecting day a plaque on the artery walls ruptures, or blood flow is blocked. In many ways atherosclerosis is a silent killer, but still a preventable one. Some cases of heart attacks and strokes may be prevented by addressing atherosclerosis early. This silent but sometimes deadly condition responds very well to the positive heat stress experienced in a sauna.
There is one super hero that comes to the forefront when it comes to treating atherosclerosis Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP 70). While tiny in size this particular protein chaperone helps to reduce inflammation in the arteries and may help open up constricted areas.
It may sound surprising that a molecule can be the unsung hero that prevents tragedy befalling a victim of a heart attack or a stroke. Do not let its size take away from its power to heal the body from inflammation.
Naturally, there are many lifestyle changes that can help prevent cholesterol, fatty tissues, and plaques from building up on the walls of arteries causing the blood flow to be blocked. Among these lifestyle changes are improving nutrition, increasing exercise, as well as ensuring that there is enough thermal stimulation to induce HSP 70 production.
The most effective and simplest way of ensuring the production of HSP 70 is simply sitting in a sauna, or any other heat therapy device. Heat stress induces the production of heat shock proteins, including the very special HSP 70.
It is possible to address atherosclerosis early in life by ensuring that your activities include dose appropriate heat stress to produce HSP 70. By doing so you may just save your life!
Find out what atherosclerosis is, how to prevent this disease from developing into something more serious, and finally how to use a sauna to ensure that HSP production is occurring.
What is Atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis builds up slowly over time as fat, blood, and cholesterol creates plaques along the walls of the arteries. (1) Atherosclerosis is a serious disease because it is the precursor to many other very serious and deadly conditions. The National Library of Medicine expands upon this notion in their publication entitled ‘What is Atherosclerosis?’
“Diseases linked to atherosclerosis are the leading cause of death in the United States and the world.” (1)
By addressing the causes for atherosclerosis early in life it may be possible to prevent the occurrences of heart attacks and strokes later on. Atherosclerosis can affect any artery in the body including the brain, heart, kidney, arms, legs, and pelvis. (1)
Atherosclerosis has a different name depending on which part of the body it is present in. Here is a list of the different names this disease may go by depend on its presence in different arteries according to the National Institute of Health.
- Carotid artery disease is plaque buildup in the neck arteries. It reduces blood flow to the brain. (1)
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries of your heart. (1)
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) most often is plaque buildup in the arteries of the legs, but it can also build up in your arms or pelvis. (1)
- Renal artery Stenosis is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to your kidneys.(1)
- Vertebral artery disease is atherosclerosis in the arteries that supply blood to the back of the brain. This area of the brain controls body functions that are needed to keep you alive. (1)
- Mesenteric artery ischemia is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the intestines. (1)
- Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, otherwise known as ASCVD, is caused by plaque buildup in arterial walls. (2)
While atherosclerosis can develop into a deeply threatening condition in the body, it is highly treatable. It is possible to avoid surgery and pharmaceuticals in the treatment of atherosclerosis by making lasting lifestyle changes. These include an amelioration of your diet, increased regular exercise, and also heat therapy.
Heat therapy may come in the form of a hot bath, infrared sauna, traditional sauna, sweat lodge, steam room, or any other combination of tools to increase internal temperature to 101.5 degrees for 20 minutes 3-7 times per week.
Find out how heat therapy can induce the small but powerful heat shock protein 70 to reduce plaque buildup in the arteries.
How Can Sauna Use Induce the Production of HSP 70 to Prevent Obstruction in the Arteries?
“In order to prevent ASCVD, thermal stimulation might be an important method of HSP70 activation in individuals who are limited to perform physical activities because of severe obesity or locomotive syndrome.” (3)
Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are molecules in the body that serve many purposes in the maintenance of a healthy body. There are many different types of HSPs in the body serving different functions. HSP 70 has garnered much praise in recent years as studies have revealed its ability to increase insulin sensitivity in the diabetic, reduce inflammation for the arthritic, and more recently help relieve atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
There is one simple and easy way of ensuring that enough HSP 70s are being produced in your body: Heat Stress. This can be accomplished through exercise, though some studies suggest that passive heat is more effective, such as a sauna, steam room, or any other whole body heating technology.
A publication from the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Thermal Effect on Heat Shock Protein 70 Family to Prevent Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease’ (3) delineates the exact relationship between HSP 70 and the prevention of atherosclerosis. The authors of the publication discuss the findings of this study when they write:
“Current evidence suggests that HSP70 may be effective in preventing ASCVD by improving its underlying pathology and diseases such as T2DM and atherosclerosis. The effect of HSP70 can be enhanced by acute or chronic thermal stimulation and be elicited systemically by targeting skeletal muscle since it regulates whole body metabolism.” (3)
HSP 70 may be helpful in the prevention of atherosclerosis because connected to its production is the release of anti-inflammatory signalers. It is not fully understood all of the reasons why HSP 70 plays such an influential role in the prevention of atherosclerosis. However, it is known that it does reduce the buildup of plaques in the arteries. The authors of the same publication further explain HSP 70’s role in preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease when they write:
“Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a chaperone protein induced by various stresses on cells and is involved in various disease mechanisms. In recent years, the expression of HSP70 in skeletal muscle has attracted attention for its use as a prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and as a disease marker.” (3)
The authors repeatedly state the importance of accessing forms of thermal therapy that place intentional heat stress on the body in these concluding statements.
“Thus, induction of HSP70 expression by external stimulation such as heat and exercise may be useful for ASCVD prevention. It may be possible to induce HSP70 by thermal stimulus in those who have difficulty in exercise because of obesity or locomotive syndrome.” (3)
Practically, this means that if you would like to work toward preventing atherosclerosis you will need to follow specific sauna protocol to ensure that HSP 70 is being produced.
Sauna With the Intention of Producing Heat Shock Proteins: The Full HSP Protocol
There are many different ways to sauna in order to effect different types of changes in the body. If you plan to use a sauna for the purpose of eliciting HSP 70 then you will need to get hot enough, and do so regularly.
It does not matter what type of sauna that you use, but it does matter that your internal temperature reaches 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit and that you are able to maintain this temperature for 20 minutes 3-7 times per week.
You can use a sublingual thermostat to measure your temperature while you are in the sauna. Remember it is not as important how hot your sauna temperature is in terms of atmospheric heat, or ambient temperature, but rather your personal internal temperature. Heat shock proteins have this name because the change in internal temperature is the catalyst to their production.
If you plan to help prevent atherosclerosis and other more serious conditions then you will need to make sure that you are eliciting a heat stress response in your body consistently over time. To sauna for this reason, is not a one shot deal, it is a fundamental lifestyle change.
Sauna Regularly, Improve Nutritional Intake, and Include Exercise in Your Lifestyle to Prevent Atherosclerosis
The use of sauna alone will not solely prevent atherosclerosis, but when combined with other lifestyle changes the net result may profoundly change an individual’s healthspan. In addition to regular sauna use, it is also important to eat a well balanced and nutrient rich diet, as well as exercise in a way that is appropriate for your mobility requirements.
Atherosclerosis can lead to many of the most deadly diseases experienced in America today. It is also a condition that is treatable without invasive surgery or pharmacology. Sauna use may be one tool of many to help in the treatment of many different variations of atherosclerosis.
If you do plan to use a sauna regularly then it is very important to stay well hydrated, and to hydrate the body with plenty of magnesium as well as other electrolytes. If you are uncertain if sauna use is a safe option for you please check with your doctor before beginning a sauna protocol for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Sources Cited
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/atherosclerosis
- https://www.heart.org/en/professional/quality-improvement/ascvd#:~:text=Atherosclerotic%20cardiovascular%20disease%2C%20otherwise%20known,aneurysm%20and%20descending%20thoracic%20aneurysm.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10216495/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8144120/