Introduction: Sauna bathing, traditionally associated with relaxation in Nordic countries, is increasingly regarded as a tool supporting cardiovascular prevention and post-exercise recovery. As its use becomes more widespread, questions arise about the safety of this form of heat exposure, the mechanisms by which it affects the cardiovascular system and autonomic regulation, and how it can be integrated into training programmes for athletes and physically active individuals.Aim: The aim of this narrative review is to organize current knowledge on the acute and chronic effects of sauna bathing on haemodynamic parameters, sympathetic–parasympathetic balance and post-exercise recovery, with particular emphasis on potential benefits, risks, contraindications and practical aspects of dosing the thermal stimulus.State of knowledge: Available studies indicate that a single sauna session induces predictable circulatory changes – peripheral vasodilation, an increase in heart rate and cardiac output with a moderate reduction in arterial blood pressure, and transient hypovolaemia. Regular sauna bathing has been associated in long-term observations with a more favourable cardiovascular profile, improvement in selected indices of sinus rhythm variability, better subjective well-being and improved exercise tolerance. In athletic populations, sauna may support the perception of recovery, promote muscle relaxation and facilitate glycogen resynthesis, provided that it is used with adequate attention to hydration and appropriate dosing of heat stress.Conclusions: Sauna appears to be a valuable and relatively simple adjunct to cardiovascular prevention strategies and recovery programmes, but it does not replace physical activity or causal treatment. Further interventional studies are needed to refine optimal protocols of sauna bathing in the general population and in elite sport, and to better define groups in whom the benefits outweigh the risks.

Introduction and purpose. Young adults—especially students—are increasingly exposed to the combined impact of a sedentary lifestyle and chronic academic stress. Screen-based learning and computer-mediated work promote prolonged sitting, while high academic demands limit time and energy for recovery and movement. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize current knowledge on links between sedentary behaviour, academic stress and health in young adults, and to indicate implications for health education and prevention at universities. Description of the state of knowledge. Studies show that sedentary behaviour in this age group is associated with musculoskeletal pain, early metabolic disturbances, poorer sleep and reduced psychological well-being, whereas academic stress correlates with anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep problems, risky health behaviours and burnout. Both factors share biological and psychosocial mechanisms, including dysregulation of the stress axis and consolidation of passive, screen-based coping. The academic environment—through timetables, assessment methods and access to sports infrastructure—shapes students’ movement patterns and stress load. Interventions that combine promotion of everyday physical activity with training in stress self-regulation and sleep hygiene, supported by environmental changes that facilitate movement breaks, appear promising but are still evaluated mainly in cross-sectional or short-term studies. Summary (conclusions). Sedentary lifestyle and academic stress form a mutually reinforcing cluster of risk factors that may contribute to early health problems in young adults, supporting the need for integrated, university-based programmes that address both daily movement patterns and stress management skills.

Background/Objectives: Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is an effective treatment for motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but concerns remain regarding its impact on cognitive function. Identifying neuroanatomical predictors of postoperative cognitive decline could improve patient selection and outcomes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between preoperative brain morphology and postoperative neuropsychological outcomes in PD patients undergoing bilateral STN-DBS. Methods: Thirty-eight PD patients underwent standardized neuropsychological testing and preoperative MRI before and 3–24 months after STN-DBS. Manual MRI morphometric measurements were obtained for 42 cortical, subcortical, and ventricular parameters. Changes in cognitive domains—including executive function, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, attention, and global cognition—were analyzed, and correlations between structural metrics and cognitive changes were assessed using Spearman’s coefficients. Results: Significant postoperative declines occurred selectively in language functions: verbal fluency (phonemic and semantic, d = −0.49 to −0.84) and confrontation naming (d = −0.47). Memory, executive functions, attention, and global cognition remained preserved. Enlarged lateral ventricles were consistently associated with poorer outcomes across multiple domains, while increased left precentral gyrus width correlated with executive and memory decline. Additionally, smaller midbrain and cingulate gyrus width were associated with greater executive impairment. Conclusions: STN-DBS in PD is associated with selective postoperative cognitive changes, most prominently in verbal fluency. Simple preoperative MRI morphometric measures, including ventricular size, limbic structure volumes, and specific cortical parameters, may serve as clinically feasible predictors of cognitive risk. Incorporating such measures into preoperative assessments could enhance patient selection, counseling, and individualized surgical planning.

Sleep hygiene encompasses behavioral and environmental practices that shape sleep quality and circadian stability. Among young adults, lifestyle demands, academic pressures, and widespread digital media use contribute to irregular sleep–wake schedules, shortened sleep duration, and increasing sleep disturbances. This narrative review synthesizes research from sleep medicine, psychology, and public health to examine how sleep hygiene relates to cognitive performance, psychological well-being, and physical functioning in young adults. Evidence indicates that inconsistent sleep timing, evening light exposure, and stimulating pre-sleep activities are linked to impaired attention, reduced learning efficiency, and poorer executive functioning. Poor sleep hygiene is also associated with heightened emotional reactivity, greater risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and impaired stress regulation. Physiological consequences include altered neuroendocrine rhythms, reduced recovery capacity, and declines in physical performance. Intervention studies show that adopting regular sleep schedules, minimizing nocturnal screen exposure, and optimizing sleep environments can improve sleep quality, daytime functioning, and mental health. Taken together, sleep hygiene emerges as a modifiable and cost-effective determinant of health in young adults. Integrating sleep-supportive behaviors into preventive medicine, education, and public health initiatives may help protect cognitive, emotional, and physical functioning during this critical developmental period.

Introduction and purpose: Orthostatic intolerance is an increasingly recognized disturbance of circulatory regulation in young adults, particularly in academic settings where characteristic lifestyle patterns promote autonomic imbalance. The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize current knowledge on pathophysiological mechanisms, classification, prevalence and management of orthostatic intolerance in young adults, with particular emphasis on the role of dehydration, sleep irregularities, academic stress and low physical activity. Description of the state of knowledge: Available data indicate that early haemodynamic changes after standing, including initial orthostatic hypotension and impaired baroreflex adaptation, are key mechanisms underlying presyncopal symptoms in this age group. In many patients complaints are misinterpreted as manifestations of anxiety or panic, which leads to delayed diagnosis, unnecessary cardiologic and neurologic investigations and failure to implement simple, effective lifestyle interventions. Studies in student populations show that recurrent presyncopal episodes, “brain fog” and exercise intolerance may significantly impair academic performance and quality of life, while remaining largely unreported. Summary (conclusions): Orthostatic intolerance in young adults rarely reflects severe structural disease but rather a mismatch between autonomic compensatory capacity and chronic environmental load. Early recognition, clear explanation of mechanisms and structured non-pharmacologic management focused on hydration, sleep hygiene, nutrition and physical activity usually lead to substantial symptom relief. In academic environments preventive measures and increased awareness among clinicians, students and university staff are essential to limit unnecessary diagnostics and to reduce the long-term functional impact of orthostatic intolerance.

Introduction. Clinical work is performed under conditions of high cognitive load, time pressure and frequent interruptions. Research on patient safety has traditionally focused on sleep deprivation, fatigue and work organisation, whereas environmental factors are analysed less frequently, despite their chronic and cumulative effects.Aim. The aim of this narrative review is to present the current state of knowledge on the relationship between indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and cognitive performance of healthcare professionals and trainees, and to discuss the implications of these associations for medical education and patient safety.State of knowledge. IEQ encompasses ventilation and air quality, thermal and humidity conditions, lighting, and sensory load, including noise. Experimental and observational evidence suggests that even moderate deviations of environmental parameters may be associated with impairments in vigilance, attention, working memory, reaction time and executive functions, particularly when combined with sleep deficit, multitasking and high distraction. Indirect effects may also arise from exposures typical of hospital environments and from factors increasing respiratory discomfort and communication burden.Conclusions. Framing IEQ within a human factors perspective supports a systems-based approach to quality and safety. Monitoring environmental parameters and implementing low-cost organisational interventions may represent a practical component of strategies aimed at supporting cognitive performance of staff and the effectiveness of medical education.