Table 5.

Changes in white blood cell profile and cortisol levels in the men studied

Index	Athletes /T/			Non-athletes /N/
	Before	After	Δ	Before	After	Δ
WBC [103/μl]	4.60#±0.66	5.25*±0.82	0.65#±0.59	5.24±1.37	5.63±1.10	0.39±0.69
Neutrophils [103/μl]	2.63±0.57	3.16*±0.73	0.53±0.63	2.78±0.81	3.12±0.85	0.34±0.49
Lymphocytes [103/μl]	1.36±0.26	1.49*±0.21	0.13±0.16	1.82±0.46	1.89±0.34	0.07±0.33
Monocytes [103/μl]	0.40±0.11	0.41±0.11	0.01#±0.07	0.46±0.18	0.46±0.15	0.00±0.08
Basophils [103/μl]	0.02±0.01	0.03*#±0.02	0.01±0.01	0.02±0.01	0.02±0.01	0.00±0.01
Eosinophils [103/μl]	0.18±0.17	0.16*±0.16	−0.03±0.03	0.16±0.07	0.15±0.06	−0.01±0.04
Cortisol (ng·ml−1)	10.99±2.02	15.45*±3.32	4.46#±4.51	13.11±6.77	18.7*±4.03	5.59±5.89

^*Statistically significant differences at p<0.05 compared to the levels before sauna bathing

^#Statistically significant differences at p<0.05 compared to the group N.