Hot water baths help patients with peripheral artery disease

Trial participant improves walking ability

Ken Heywood, a 75-year-old retired engineering manager from Stockport, joined an eight-week heat-therapy trial funded by the British Heart Foundation. He attended sessions three times a week where water was heated to exactly 40C. By the end of the study, his blood pressure improved and he could walk without stopping at benches. Heywood also managed to climb a local hill that previously terrified him due to pain in his legs.

Researchers explain circulation benefits

William Carey, an academic running the trial, stated that immersion raises core body temperature and drives blood toward the skin. This process moves blood away from organs and helps those whose bodies struggle to send blood efficiently to their legs. The majority of UK homes still have bathtubs despite a recent shift in washing habits toward showers. Research from the University of Oregon suggests bathing may lower blood pressure and boost the immune system effectively.

Historical context for hot baths

Medical historian Roger Rolls noted that ancient Greeks and Romans popularised bathing treatments based on a system called humorism. Physicians between the fifth century BC and 17th century AD believed vital fluids like blood needed rebalancing through heat. Although microbes discovered in the 17th century debunked humorism, doctors continued to find bathing effective for various conditions. Heywood now takes hot baths regularly at home alongside physiotherapy and exercise while consulting his GP.