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Aging is associated with elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and impaired vascular function, characterized by endothelial dysfunction and stiffening of the large elastic arteries, which all increase risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Passive repeated heat exposure (“heat therapy”) is associated with lower CVD risk at the population level and improves CV function in animals, healthy young adults, and selective groups of patients with clinical disease. It is unknown, however, if heat therapy lowers SBP and/or improves vascular function in late middle‐aged to older (MA/O) adults free of clinical diseases/disorders.

To determine if heat therapy via hot water immersion in healthy MA/O adults lowers SBP and/or improves markers of vascular health that are independent risk factors for CVD.

Ten healthy MA/O men and post‐menopausal women (57–76 years) were randomly assigned to participate …