Research Center: University of Oregon
Location: Bowerman Sports Science Center 1540 East 15th Avenue Eugene, OR 97403-1240
Lead Researchers: Christopher Minson, PhD
IRB Committee: This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Oregon Institutional Review Board

High blood pressure (hypertension) accounts for more heart and vascular disease-related deaths than any other modifiable risk factor. Regular exercise is known to prevent and treat high blood pressure. Heat therapy, in the form of a hot bath or sauna, is an ancient practice that may also be effective at improving blood pressure.

The goal of this research is to determine whether heat therapy or exercise training are both effective at reducing high blood pressure. This study may help identify drug-free approaches to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. As a result, this study may influence the culture surrounding health practices and public health and reduce the amount of blood pressure medications prescribed to the public.

• Participants will receive exercise training or heat therapy sessions for high blood pressure at no cost.
• Participants may better control their blood pressure and reduce their risk for heart disease. 
• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may benefit those with high blood pressure in the future.
• Participants will be helping researchers understand how humans with high blood pressure respond to heat therapy and exercise training.
• Participants will be compensated up to $600 for participating in this study. 
• Participants will be helping to advance medical research on high blood pressure.

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.

• Men and women aged 35-60 who have elevated or high blood pressure 
• Must not have a high level of physical activity
• Must not be taking medication to lower blood pressure
• Must not have diabetes or any other metabolic, heart, or vascular disease
• Must be able to attend 41 study visits at the research site over approximately 12 weeks

The research team will explain the study in its entirety but some details are:

• Participants will be asked to attend 2 screening visits, 3 pre-test visits, 2 interim-test visits, 3 post-test visits, and 30 heat therapy or exercise training sessions.
  • The total duration of screening and testing sessions throughout the study will be 11.5 hours, and the total duration of heat therapy or exercise training sessions will be another 31.5 hours. An additional 9 hours of sample collection and logging will be performed at home.
• Participants will be randomly assigned to participate in either heat therapy or exercise training sessions.
  • For both groups, there will be 30 sessions over an 8 to 10 week period (3 to 4 sessions per week).
  • Upon completion of each session, participants will be offered a snack (Granola bar) and fluids (18oz Gatorade) to eat and drink.
• Participants who are assigned to the heat therapy group will be asked to wear a swimsuit or suitable clothing for being in a hot tub and a heart rate monitor for each therapy session.
  • Heat therapy sessions will involve 45 minutes in a hot tub. 
  • Participants will also be asked to swallow a core temp pill the night before each of the first 5 sessions and the last session. This core temp pill is the size of a multivitamin and will pass through your system harmlessly within 2 days.
• Participants who are assigned to the exercise training group will be advised to wear a T-shirt with shorts and tennis shoes for all exercise sessions. They will also wear a heart rate monitor for each therapy session.
  • Each exercise session will include 5-minutes of easy cycling, followed by 40 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling, which will be difficult, but at a level where participants could keep up a conversation while exercising. The session will end with a 5-minute cool-down of easy cycling.

University of Oregon
Nestled between rivers, mountains, and a rocky coastline—the University of Oregon is all about beautiful contrasts. They are relentlessly innovative but grounded in a history they are constantly learning from. They are thinkers who create, builders who dream, adventurers, and change agents happily rooted in their own personal arboretum. They love technology and nature, abstract art, and discrete mathematics. They believe in respect and inclusion, conversation, and collaboration, and they are always interested in diverse perspectives.

Please note:

Due to the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers would like to assure the participants that ensuring the safety of the participants as well as the study staff is of utmost importance.