Who doesn’t like a hot shower or a soak in the tub, even better, a nice relaxing bubbling session in a hot tub? We have some good news for hot tub lovers: they don’t just feel great, but a study from the University of Oregon, recently published in the American Journal of Physiology, has found that they may outperform saunas when it comes to health benefits.
Ah, the hot tub, it helps to soothe aching muscles and provides feel-good bubbling warmth; all while helping you unwind and relieve stress. While saunas also provide warmth, relieve stress, and soothe aching muscles, soaking in a hot tub raises core body temperature more than dry or infrared saunas to trigger stronger heart, blood vessel, and immune responses, according to this study comparing the physiological effects of soaking in a hot tub to sitting in a traditional dry heat sauna or a more modern far-infrared sauna.
This is important because raising core body temperatures by soaking in the welcoming hot water of a hot tub helps to lower blood pressure and stimulate the immune system, which, over time, can help to improve the body’s response to heat stress. These effects can last well beyond the time spent directly in the hot water immersion therapy too.
The study
“We compared the most commonly utilized modalities of passive heating as they’re used in everyday life and studied in scientific research,” said study lead author Jessica Atencio, a doctoral student in the lab of Christopher Minson. “No studies have compared the acute responses between the three.”
This study involved 20 participants between the ages of 20 to 28 years old who exercised regularly, monitored blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, body temperature, and immune cell populations, as well as blood biomarkers of inflammation. This data was collected before, during, and after the participants either soaked in a hot tub or sat in one of the two types of saunas.
What they found
Blood samples were taken from each type of therapy; however, only hot water immersion, a form of contrast therapy, was found to produce an inflammatory response as measured by levels of cytokines. Regular exercise may provide similar benefits and, in some respects, greater than those from hot water immersion therapy, but those who are unwilling or unable to exercise may find soaking in a hot tub an attractive option. Perhaps even better, combining exercise with heat therapy? (Of course, only after consulting with your primary care provider.)
“We saw that hot water immersion was the most impactful in increasing core body temperature, which is the main stimulus for these subsequent responses,” Atencio said. “Increasing body temperature causes an increase in blood flow, and just the force of blood moving across your vessels is beneficial for your vascular health.”
Hot tub for the win, at least in this study
“Hot water immersion gives you the most robust changes in core temperature because you can’t effectively dissipate heat as you can if you have contact with the air and you’re sweating to cool the body,” said Atencio. “When you’re submerged in water, the sweat mechanisms aren’t efficient.”
“There’s no doubt in my mind that if people are willing to do some heat therapy, it’s going to align with improved health, as long as it’s done in moderation,” Minson said. “If you repeat these stresses over time, our lab and many others have shown that they are consistent with improved health.”
“It can be a very peaceful, sometimes religious, sometimes cultural, and sometimes social experience,” Minson said. “And I think those aspects contribute to the health benefits and are critically important.”
“We want people to be smart and safe about it,” he added. “We need to make sure that they are cleared by their physicians or others for heat therapy or for exercise, whether it’s mild to moderate walking or jogging, or strength training. Then they’ll be fine to do heat therapy.”
“We always say that exercise is the primary non-pharmacological treatment that people should be doing to promote health, but some people can’t or just won’t exercise,” she said. “Heat therapy is good supplementation.”
This article was written at the WHN News Desk
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
