ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Waon therapy (WT) has been used as a thermal therapy in chronic heart failure patients. However, its effect in patients with hypertension is unclear. This study aimed to reveal the hypotensive effect of WT in patients with hypertension. WT was performed on 31 patients with hypertension (63.9â±â11.9âyears, male: 17) on standard hypertension treatment focusing on lifestyle modification and medication. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured before and after WT using an upper arm automated sphygmomanometer. We investigated the effect of single and repeated (1âtime/d, >5 times) WT sessions on blood pressure and further compared its effect between current smoking (nâ=â11, 55.4â±â6.4âyears, 8.5â±â2.4 times) and non-smoking (nâ=â11, 66.9â±â8.5âyears, 12.2â±â5.9 times) groups. A total of 370 sessions of WT were conducted. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly decreased after a single WT session (systolic blood pressure: 118.5â±â10.1 to 115.1â±â9.0âmm Hg, Pâ<â.001; diastolic blood pressure: 70.5â±â6.4 to 65.9â±â5.3âmm Hg, Pâ<â.001). The blood pressure decrease following repeated WT was not significant when all participants were considered (systolic blood pressure: 122.3â±â15.2 to 116.9â±â19.6âmm Hg; diastolic blood pressure: 73.8â±â16.7 to 68.2â±â13.2âmm Hg); however, it was significant in the non-smoking group (systolic blood pressure: 124.2â±â11.3 to 108.8â±â13.4âmm Hg, Pâ<â.001; diastolic blood pressure: 73.6â±â4.9 to 62.1â±â7.6âmm Hg, Pâ<â.001). Repeated WT (at least 5 sessions) decreased blood pressure in patients with hypertension, especially in non-smokers. WT is a simple method to reduce blood pressure in non-smoking patients with hypertension.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure Determination/methods , Hypertension , Hyperthermia, Induced/methods , Smoking , Blood Pressure/physiology , Female , Humans , Hypertension/diagnosis , Hypertension/physiopathology , Hypertension/psychology , Hypertension/therapy , Japan , Male , Middle Aged , Monitoring, Physiologic , Non-Smokers/statistics & numerical data , Smoking/adverse effects , Smoking/physiopathology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Background: Waon therapy (WT) is the predominant thermal therapy for chronic heart failure in Japan, involving use of a far-infrared dry sauna. As sauna therapy requires certain equipment not readily available in hospitals, we tested the use of whole-body hot pack thermal therapy (HPTT). We compared the magnitude of skin vasodilation post-HPTT with that post-WT.Methods: We recruited 19 healthy men (age [mean ± S.D.]: 26.8 ± 4.6 years) and employed a simple randomized crossover design. The HPTT required subjects to remain in a supine position on a bed for at least 10 min. Hot packs were then applied on the back, lower abdomen, and popliteal regions for 15 min (warming phase). Participants continued bed rest for 30 min (heat-retention phase) after removal of the hot pack. WT was performed as previously described. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), tympanic temperature (TT), and peak and average flow velocity of the right radial artery (PFV and AFV, respectively) and right brachial artery (BA) diameter were measured during HPTT and WT.Results: HR, TT, PFV, and AFV persistently and significantly increased during warming and heat-retention phases of HPTT. In WT, HR and TT significantly increased during warming but decreased and plateaued during heat-retention. BP did not change significantly after either therapy; however, BA was dilated equally in both (HPTT: 3.70 ± 0.57 â 4.05 ± 0.59 mm, p = .001; WT: 3.63 ± 0.63 â 3.93 ± 0.61 mm, p < .001).Conclusion: HPTT may be equivalent to WT with respect to vasodilation response of the skin.