By Marcelle Dibrell

A recent body of evidence is showing that the health benefits of regular hot tubbing may rival those of regular exercise.

Everyone knows that regular physical activity is good for your health. It prevents excess weight gain, combatshealthconditionsanddiseases, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep, and more.

Oneofthemainbenefitsofexerciseis that it improves cardiovascular health.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the developed world, contributing to more than 30 percent of deaths in the United States.

Despite this fact, nearly half of the American population does not exercise enough, according a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And even that seems like a conservative estimate in a country of couch potatoes.

We’re lazy. We lack motivation, time, and the fitness to even get started.And the older among us are afraid of getting hurt.

But what if there were evidence to suggest that we can reap similar health benefits by getting off the treadmill and into the hot tub?

It turns out, there might be something to this.

Researchers at the University of Colorado – Boulder are studying the effects of “passive heat therapy” — repeated hot tub use — on cardiovascular health.

Scientists say that age-related increases in systolic blood pressure and impaired artery function are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cognitive impairments, and dementia in “midlife” and older men and women. This is specifically true for mid-life (5064) and older people with “elevated” (120-129) systolic blood pressure and stage 1 hypertension (systolic blood pressure = 130-139).

So their question is: Can hot water meaningfully lower your blood pressure?

There is evidence that it can. Heat therapy has been used for centuries by many cultures, with common reports of improved overall well-being and quality of life. Only lately, however, have scientists begun to systematically investigate the vast physiological and health benefits of this ancient practice.

For example, it appears that heat therapy may have the potential to improve cognitive function in older adults. Impaired brain blood flow is associated with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, but studies have shown that heat therapy can increase brain blood flow.

Heat therapy is showing great promise in improving overall vascular function.

CU Boulder researchers recently conducted a small pilot trial (23 people) in mid-life and older adults and found that 30 sessions of hot tubbing over approximately 10 weeks was safe and well-tolerated and reduced casual systolic blood pressure by about 10 and ambulatory (24-hour) systolic blood pressure by about 6.

Furthermore, they found that it increased arterial dilation and nitric oxide availability and reduced stiffening of the arteries. (For cardiovascular health, these are good things.)

To achieve these results, they had 23 people sit for an hour in water that was hot enough to raise their core body temperature from 98.6 °F to about 102 °F.

Now, they are aiming to refine these conclusions, and they need a larger pool of participants.

On December 7, the Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab at CU Boulder’s campus announced they are seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical research study. They are looking for women and men, ages 40plus, who have high blood pressure and are willing to participate in water immersion sessions approximately three times per week for 12 weeks.

What’s more — they’ll pay you, but you have to go to Boulder.

So if you’re over 40 with high blood pressure and you want to make a little cash while sitting in a hot tub, email hottubstudy@colorado.edu or call 970-460-8970.