Abstract
Effect of mist sauna bathing on sleep in winter was investigated through experiments using eight subjects. In these experiments, they took a normal bath or a mist sauna bath at 40℃ for 10 min, respectively, for ten consecutive days about one and half hours before going to bed at their home. The temperature of their bathrooms, temperature and relative humidity of their bedrooms, and oral temperature of the subjects were recorded before and after bathing for the ten days. In addition, the electroencephalogram (EEG) was measured using a mobile-type one-channel EEG system, and daily activities were measured using a pedometer. Sleepiness using KSS (Kwansei-gakuin Sleepiness Scale) was measured after each sleep. There was no significant difference both in the sleep efficiency index and in the sleep-onset latency between the two bathing conditions. However, the delta power of EEG during the first sleep cycle was significantly higher for mist sauna bathing than for normal bathing. Increase in oral temperature was significantly higher after mist sauna bathing than that for normal bathing. Additionally, the subjects felt more refreshed the next morning after the day when they took a mist sauna bathing than when taking a normal bathing.
