COULD the dreaded sauna be helping jockeys from contracting Covid-19?
The answer is a most definitive yes, at least according to one piece of research.
Few jockeys around the globe have either been infected – or at least revealed they have been infected – by Coronavirus, with the notable exception being US Hall of Fame star Javier Castellano.
For most riders, using the sauna in order to keep their weight down is a despised part of their daily job. But it might just be those sauna trips are now paying dividends in more than one way.
Purely by chance, this week I stumbled on an article written by Dr Rhonda Patrick, who has a Ph.D in biomedical science and claims to be an expert on nutritional health and ageing.
The fact that she has more than 300,000 Twitter followers suggests one to two people think she knows what she’s talking about!
Now let’s get one thing clear straight away, no one is suggesting going in a sauna will stop you contracting coronavirus.
But Dr Patricks comments: “While no data suggest that sauna use has a direct effect on acute COVID-19 infection, I think there’s a convincing argument that sauna use promotes broader changes in immune function that may bolster defence in a contextually beneficial way.”
So what the doc is basically saying is that if you are a regular sauna user, your body may – or may not – have a superior immune system in general.
Dr Patricks adds: “Sauna use has been associated with a reduced risk of developing certain chronic or acute respiratory illnesses including pneumonia.
“It promotes mild hypothermia which in turn introduces a wide array of physiological responses. These responses reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in active defence systems that provide protection against many diseases.
“So data from a 2017 study suggests that sauna use reduces the risk of developing certain chronic or acute respiratory illnesses characterised by cough, fever, chills and difficulty in breathing. It’s a common complication of influenza including Covid-19.
“Pneumonia effects people of all ages, but children, older adults and people with ongoing issues seem to be most vulnerable.”
Most importantly, Dr Patricks adds: “Sauna use helps create heat-shock proteins which are activators for the innate immune system. Some members of the HSP family, such as hsp60, hsp70, hsp90 and gp96, are able also to stimulate cells of the innate immune system directly and thus, act as ‘danger’-signaling molecules.”
In English, that means there are studies out there which suggest the more you use a sauna the more likely your body is to be able to defend itself from nasty attacks from the likes of coronavirus.
Incidentally, before you rush out to buy a home sauna, it takes at least three months to have any possible influence. And on the basis a home sauna for most of us is not practical, seriously hot baths might have the same effect.
In Europe jockeys are not doing anything, although there are signs the French think they will be back in action in May. It remains to be seen if that is possible.
Some racing is taking place around the world, and one rider – Luke Tarrant – in Australia has been banned from race-riding for six months after headbutting another jockey at Doomben on Wednesday.
Tarrant had a verbal altercation with fellow rider Larry Cassidy by the weighing area of the track before then headbutting him, with his helmet striking Cassidy’s nose, causing an injury.
The altercation is believed to have started just after the finish of the ninth race on the card, in which Tarrant finished seventh and Cassidy eighth.
To be honest, Tarrant has a history of ‘trouble’, but in these times of hardship and lack of opportunities his actions were madness in the extreme. Perhaps, though, he will spend extra time in the sauna!
In the UK Jamie Spencer had a horrible accident on the gallops which has left him with a broken hip. Jockeys do not complain, but it was clear when I spoke to Jamie on Stateside Live on Sky Sports Racing that he had and still is in a lot of pain.
Spencer was relieved to get hospital treatment, but also added he had wanted to escape hospital as soon as possible considering the current Covid-19 crisis and the chances of contracting the virus while being treated.
He will have to test himself for coronavirus after seven days from leaving Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
I’d like to wish Jamie a speedy recovery. And pray you all remain safe at home.
