Sleep, Sauna and Cold

Sleep

I sleep well, about seven to eight hours. During sleep, the brain cleans out waste products through the so-called glymphatic system, and these include harmful proteins. That is why good sleep is a building block of its own for me.

In July 2026 I had my sleep measured for one night at the HNO-Zentrum Rhein-Neckar (polygraphy). The result was very good: my apnea-hypopnea index was 3 per hour. Below 5 counts as normal, so I do not have sleep apnea. My oxygen saturation averaged 95 percent, and my pulse was 62.

Sauna

I have an infrared sauna at home.

Breathing exercises

I do breathing exercises following Wim Hof. My record for holding my breath is 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Cold

I have been in a cold chamber at minus 85 degrees. Since November 2023 I have gone ice bathing once or twice a week, and since mid-September 2026 I have my own ice bath in my garden, which I plan to get into regularly. Since it has gotten cooler again, my tremor feels calmer.

Important: Cold puts a heavy strain on the heart and circulation. Start slowly and talk to your doctor first.

I also tried palm cooling ("Palm Cooling" or "Alpha Cooling"), but it had no effect.

My conclusion

Sleep, heat, cold and breathing cost little and do me good. None of them has a proven effect on Parkinson's, but for me they are part of a healthy everyday life.