Chronic Heat Therapy for Improving Vascular Health
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Peripheral Vascular Disease |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Cardiology / Vascular Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 40 |
| Updated: | 10/28/2017 |
| Start Date: | April 2013 |
| End Date: | April 30, 2016 |
Chronic Heat Therapy for Improving Biomarkers of Vascular Health in Young, Healthy, Humans
The purpose of the study is to investigate whether long-term heat therapy (i.e. 8 weeks of
hot tub 4-5x per week) improves biomarkers of cardiovascular health in young, healthy,
able-bodied individuals. Although exercise is a potent means of improving cardiovascular
health, many patients are unable to exercise effectively, and thus there is high demand for
novel therapies to better manage cardiovascular risk in these patients. If successful, this
study will set the groundwork for heat therapy to be used as an alternative treatment in
patients who have limited exercise capabilities for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
hot tub 4-5x per week) improves biomarkers of cardiovascular health in young, healthy,
able-bodied individuals. Although exercise is a potent means of improving cardiovascular
health, many patients are unable to exercise effectively, and thus there is high demand for
novel therapies to better manage cardiovascular risk in these patients. If successful, this
study will set the groundwork for heat therapy to be used as an alternative treatment in
patients who have limited exercise capabilities for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Exercise training is a potent means of improving cardiovascular (CV) risk; however, exercise
is challenging for many patient populations. Passive heat therapy may provide a simple and
effective alternative to exercise for improving CV health, and no one has yet studied the
physiological benefits of chronic heat exposure in humans. Heat exposure induces the
expression of heat shock proteins, which can have a multitude of beneficial effects on the CV
system, many of which are common to exercise training. In particular, these benefits include
upregulation of many cellular pathways associated with improved vascular function, a
predominant contributor to CV health. The goal of the study is to determine the effects of
chronic passive heat therapy on vascular function in young, healthy, able-bodied individuals.
The investigators will perform a randomized-controlled trial in which subjects participate in
8 weeks of either heat therapy or thermoneutral water immersion (sham). Heat therapy will
entail 8 weeks of hot water immersion sufficient to raise core temperature >38.5°C for 1h,
4-5 times per week. Thermoneutral water immersion will entail 8 weeks of immersion in 36°C
water for the same duration as heat therapy. In both subject groups, the investigators will
measure various well-established biomarkers of vascular function before and after 8 weeks of
heat therapy, including measures of arterial stiffness (arterial compliance, beta-stiffness,
and pulse wave velocity), endothelium-dependent dilation (flow-mediated dilation), and intima
media thickness. The investigators will investigate the effects of heat therapy on the
microvasculature and on the mechanisms behind improvements in vascular function in the
cutaneous microcirculation, an ideal site for pharmacodissecting the molecular pathways
involved, using microdialysis paired with laser-Doppler flowmetry. If successful, these
studies will serve as a basis for developing heat therapy as a novel means of improving CV
risk, which has the potential to reshape the treatment of patient populations with limited
exercise capabilities.
is challenging for many patient populations. Passive heat therapy may provide a simple and
effective alternative to exercise for improving CV health, and no one has yet studied the
physiological benefits of chronic heat exposure in humans. Heat exposure induces the
expression of heat shock proteins, which can have a multitude of beneficial effects on the CV
system, many of which are common to exercise training. In particular, these benefits include
upregulation of many cellular pathways associated with improved vascular function, a
predominant contributor to CV health. The goal of the study is to determine the effects of
chronic passive heat therapy on vascular function in young, healthy, able-bodied individuals.
The investigators will perform a randomized-controlled trial in which subjects participate in
8 weeks of either heat therapy or thermoneutral water immersion (sham). Heat therapy will
entail 8 weeks of hot water immersion sufficient to raise core temperature >38.5°C for 1h,
4-5 times per week. Thermoneutral water immersion will entail 8 weeks of immersion in 36°C
water for the same duration as heat therapy. In both subject groups, the investigators will
measure various well-established biomarkers of vascular function before and after 8 weeks of
heat therapy, including measures of arterial stiffness (arterial compliance, beta-stiffness,
and pulse wave velocity), endothelium-dependent dilation (flow-mediated dilation), and intima
media thickness. The investigators will investigate the effects of heat therapy on the
microvasculature and on the mechanisms behind improvements in vascular function in the
cutaneous microcirculation, an ideal site for pharmacodissecting the molecular pathways
involved, using microdialysis paired with laser-Doppler flowmetry. If successful, these
studies will serve as a basis for developing heat therapy as a novel means of improving CV
risk, which has the potential to reshape the treatment of patient populations with limited
exercise capabilities.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Young, healthy, able-bodied
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of any chronic diseases related to the cardiovascular system (e.g.
hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.),
- Currently taking prescription medications (except contraceptives)
- Body mass index over 27 kg/m2
- Current smoking
- Currently pregnant or breast-feeding
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