Preventive and promotive effects of habitual hot spa-bathing on the elderly in Japan

Maeda, Takeshi; Mimori, Koshi; Suzuki, Sadao; Horiuchi, Takahiko; Makino, Naoki

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18488-3

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…Subjects were divided into three groups based on the frequency of their hot water bathing <4 times (group I), 5–6 times (Group II) and > 7times per week (group III). Similar methodology was used in another observational study 11 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has also been repeatedly demonstrated that hot water immersion has favorable effects on cardiovascular function in patients with heart failure 8 – 10 . Furthermore, in a recent cross-sectional study with a large elderly Japanese population, habitual hot spa-bathing was significantly associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease in men and hypertension in women 11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Habitual hot water bathing protects cardiovascular function in middle-aged to elderly Japanese subjects

Kohara

Tabara

Ochi

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Favorable effects of sauna bathing on cardiovascular disease have been demonstrated. Hot water bathing is an alternative, and could also have similar effects. Information pertaining to hot water bathing frequency and water temperature was obtained from 873 subjects. Carotid mean and max intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured as indices of atherosclerosis. Central haemodynamics were evaluated using radial pulse waveform analyses. Plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured as an index for cardiac loading. The mean duration of a single hot bath was 12.4 ± 9.9 min. Subject bathing in hot water ≥5 times per week had significantly lower baPWV, central pulse pressure (PP), and BNP after correcting for possible confounding parameters. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that hot water temperature was negatively associated with baPWV, while bathing frequency was negatively related to central PP and BNP. A longitudinal follow-up in 164 subjects showed that hot water bathing ≥5 times per week was associated with significantly lower increase in BNP over time, while the temperature of the water tended to be related to lower increases in carotid max IMT and baPWV. Hot water bathing showed a favorable effect on atherosclerotic and central haemodynamic parameters.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Habitual hot water bathing protects cardiovascular function in middle-aged to elderly Japanese subjects

Kohara

Tabara

Ochi

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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“…Heat therapy has recently been targeted as a potential vehicle to evoke these positive thermal-induced adaptations in those precluded from undertaking exercise. Experimental investigations, large cohort surveys and reviews have expressed the potential for passive heating to improve physical and mental health in patients with cardiovascular disease (Brunt et al, 2016a,b;Maeda et al, 2018), diabetes (Kimball et al, 2018;Maley et al, 2019), peripheral arterial disease (Akerman et al, 2019), and depression (Janssen et al, 2016).…”

Section: Responses To Active (Exercise Heat Acclimation) and Passive mentioning

confidence: 99%

Could Heat Therapy Be an Effective Treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases? A Narrative Review

et al. 2020

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Neurodegenerative diseases involve the progressive deterioration of structures within the central nervous system responsible for motor control, cognition, and autonomic function. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are among the most common neurodegenerative disease and have an increasing prevalence over the age of 50. Central in the pathophysiology of these neurodegenerative diseases is the loss of protein homeostasis, resulting in misfolding and aggregation of damaged proteins. An element of the protein homeostasis network that prevents the dysregulation associated with neurodegeneration is the role of molecular chaperones. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are chaperones that regulate the aggregation and disaggregation of proteins in intracellular and extracellular spaces, and evidence supports their protective effect against protein aggregation common to neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, upregulation of HSPs, such as HSP70, may be a target for therapeutic intervention for protection against neurodegeneration. A novel therapeutic intervention to increase the expression of HSP may be found in heat therapy and/or heat acclimation. In healthy populations, these interventions have been shown to increase HSP expression. Elevated HSP may have central therapeutic effects, preventing or reducing the toxicity of protein aggregation, and/or peripherally by enhancing neuromuscular function. Broader physiological responses to heat therapy have also been identified and include improvements in muscle function, cerebral blood flow, and markers of metabolic health. These outcomes may also have a significant benefit for people with neurodegenerative disease. While there is limited research into body warming in patient populations, regular passive heating (sauna bathing) has been associated with a reduced risk of developing neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, the emerging evidence is compelling and warrants further investigation of the potential benefits of heat acclimation and passive heat therapy for sufferers of neurodegenerative diseases.

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“…In another study conducted in the city of Beppu, Japan, a questionnaire regarding hot spa-bathing habits and disease history was administered to a random selection of 20,000 citizens aged 65 yr of age and older. Of the 9,252 valid responses received, analysis revealed that habitual onsen bathing may translate into the prevention of hypertension in women and cardiovascular disease in men, among a variety of other diseases surveyed (56). Some mechanisms of action have been demonstrated in a study in Sprague-Dawley rats (68) in which thickening of the intimal wall, a known precursor for atherosclerosis, was induced by surrounding right femoral arteries of rats with a polyethylene cuff.…”

Section: Japanese Onsen Bathingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of heat stress on vascular outcomes in humans

Cheng

MacDonald

2019

Journal of Applied Physiology

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In addition to its role as an environmental stressor, scientists have recently demonstrated the potential for heat to be a therapy for improving or mitigating declines in arterial health. Many studies at both ends of the scientific controls spectrum (tightly controlled, experimental vs. practical) have demonstrated the beneficial effects of heating on microvascular function (e.g., reactive hyperemia, cutaneous vascular conductance); endothelial function (e.g., flow-mediated dilation); and arterial stiffness (e.g., pulse-wave velocity, compliance, β-stiffness index). It is important to note that findings of beneficial effects are not unanimous, likely owing to the varied methodology in both heating protocols and assessments of outcome measures. Mechanisms of action for the effects of both acute and chronic heating are also understudied. Heat science is a very promising area of human physiology research, as it has the potential to contribute to approaches addressing the global cardiovascular disease burden, particularly in aging and at risk populations, and those for whom exercise is not feasible or recommended.

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Preventive and promotive effects of habitual hot spa-bathing on the elderly in Japan

Cited by 14 publications

References 14 publications

Habitual hot water bathing protects cardiovascular function in middle-aged to elderly Japanese subjects

Habitual hot water bathing protects cardiovascular function in middle-aged to elderly Japanese subjects

Could Heat Therapy Be an Effective Treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases? A Narrative Review

Effect of heat stress on vascular outcomes in humans

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