Latest news with #JessicaAtencio
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Super relaxing vacation activity can lower your blood pressure and boost your immune system: study
The single greatest thing that you can do to not only live longer but also age well is exercise. But, let's face it — people are lazy. 'We always say that exercise is the primary nonpharmacological treatment that people should be doing to promote health, but some people can't or just won't exercise,' Jessica Atencio, a doctoral student in the lab of University of Oregon professor Christopher Minson, said in a statement. Luckily for us couch potatoes, there's a much more enjoyable activity that Atencio described as 'good supplementation' to working out. If you're staying at a hotel that has a sauna, a hot tub or the increasingly trendy infrared sauna — chances are you're way more likely to be spending your time there than at the gym, especially if you're on vacation. And, according to Atencio's study in the American Journal of Physiology, that's a very good thing. All three types of heat therapy — the use of elevated temperatures to stimulate physiological responses — are said to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and support immune function, but the research has been limited. Moreover, no one has set out to determine which of these three offers the most health benefits. 'We compared the most commonly utilized modalities of passive heating as they're used in everyday life and studied in scientific research,' Atencio said. 'No studies have compared the acute responses between the three.' To answer this question, Atencio and her team compared the effects of soaking in a hot tub versus shvitzing in a traditional sauna or relaxing in an infrared one on 20 healthy men and women. The winner? Pop the champagne for bubbles. '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.' While it might surprise you that 'hot tub' was the answer, the scientists were unfazed. '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,' Atencio explained. 'When you're submerged in water, the sweat mechanisms aren't efficient.' As with exercise, you need to hit up the hot tub on a regular basis — and not push yourself past your limits — to really reap the long-term benefits. '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,' he added. And if you can grab a few friends to join you — or meditate while you're having a solo soak — even better. '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.'
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Hot bath versus saunas: Which is more effective for heart health? Study answers
Do you think trendy sauna sessions are the key to better health? Think again. A recent study led by Jessica Atencio and Christopher Minson from the University of Oregon suggests that something as simple as a hot bath can offer surprising health benefits. In fact, soaking in a hot bath may significantly boost heart health — without the need to hit the gym or go for a run. Also read | Cold shower or warm bath? Ayurveda expert on what's better for you in winter Heading straight to a hot bath can boost your heart health.(Freepik) The scientists picked 20 healthy adults for the study and tested three sessions of heated immersions to understand how hot baths can affect the body. It was observed that hot water immersion can lead to greater thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and immune responses compared to saunas. While wellness influencers suggest saunas for health reasons, hot baths might be cheaper, more effective, and an at-home therapy to boost heart health. The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, on June 9, 2025, states that instead of opting for traditional or infrared saunas, a 45-minute soak in hot water can do more dramatic physiological changes. Also read | Reasons you should consider taking a soak in hot water spring Here's why you need to take hot baths often.(Freepik) The study authors, in the paper, added, 'This study indicates that a single session of hot water immersion leads to the greatest physiological strain compared with both traditional and far infrared saunas due to the unique environmental challenge imparted by whole body water immersion. The large increase in core temperature elicited by hot water immersion results in cardiovascular strain and immunological alterations, which may lead to beneficial health adaptations with repeated exposures.' Why hot water is so effective: The study authors noted that water can conduct heat 24 times more than air. When we are submerged in hot water, the body receives constant heating, unlike saunas where the temperature keeps varying and the body also starts to cool down due to sweating. But when the body is submerged in water, it cuts down the tendency of cooking by sweat evaporation. Also read | Forget the gym, this simple heat hack can boost your health instantly Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!. Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
