Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and spa therapy on blood pressure: a mini-review

  • Review Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is one of the most common health conditions. When your blood pressure is high for a long term, it can cause health problems, such as heart disease. In addition to the main methods of treatment, there are various methods of adjuvant therapy, one of the most common of which is hydrotherapy. In this review study, we examined the effects of hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and spa therapy on blood pressure. We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct databases until April 2022 using related keywords. In summary, the current study shows that different hydrotherapy methods may improve blood pressure. Hydrotherapy as one of the adjunctive therapy methods can be effective in lowering blood pressure. Blood circulation is smoothed by the warmth of the water. This improvement may be achieved by regulating heart rate, releasing hormones that control blood pressure, or regulating the activity of baroreceptors or chemoreceptors. In addition to using medications, hypertension patients also use non-pharmacological approaches in their care, including hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and warm water foot soaks performed at home. Although several lines of evidence show the potential effects of hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and spa therapy on blood pressure, many clinical trials are needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

References    

  • Andalib S, Lattanzi S, Di Napoli M, Petersen A, Biller J, Kulik T, Macri E, Girotra T, Torbey MT, Divani AA (2020) Blood pressure variability: a new predicting factor for clinical outcomes of intracerebral hemorrhage. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 29(12):105340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong EP, Malone DC (2003) The impact of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on blood pressure, with an emphasis on newer agents. Clin Ther 25(1):1–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balakumar P, Maung-U K, Jagadeesh G (2016) Prevalence and prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Pharmacol Res 113:600–609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bavishi C, Bangalore S, Messerli FH (2017) Reply: adequate blood pressure control and monitoring acute kidney injury in older hypertensive patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 70(1):120–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boegehold MA, Kotchen TA (1989) Relative contributions of dietary Na+ and Cl-to salt-sensitive hypertension. Hypertension 14(6):579–583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brownson RC, Patrick L (2006) High blood pressure in chronic disease epidemiology and control. American Public Health Assosiation, Washington, D.C

  • Buga GM, Gold ME, Fukuto JM, Ignarro LJ (1991) Shear stress-induced release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells grown on beads. Hypertension 17(2):187–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC, Green LA, Izzo JL Jr, Jones DW, Materson BJ, Oparil S, Wright JT Jr (2003) The seventh report of the joint national committee on prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure: the JNC 7 report. JAMA 289(19):2560–2571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cider Å, Schaufelberger M, Sunnerhagen KS, Andersson B (2003) Hydrotherapy—a new approach to improve function in the older patient with chronic heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail 5(4):527–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cozzi F, Lazzarin P, Todesco S, Cima L (1995) Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation in healthy subjects undergoing mud-bath applications. Arthritis Rheum 38(5):724–725

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dandinoglu T, Dandin O, Ergin T, Tihan D, Akpak YK, Aydın OU, Teomete U (2017) Can balneotherapy improve the bowel motility in chronically constipated middle-aged and elderly patients? Int J Biometeorol 61(6):1139–1148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deshmukh A, Kumar G, Kumar N, Nanchal R, Gobal F, Sakhuja A, Mehta JL (2011) Effect of Joint National Committee VII report on hospitalizations for hypertensive emergencies in the United States. Am J Cardiol 108(9):1277–1282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drexler H (1998) Hypertension, heart failure, and endothelial function. Am J Cardiol 82(9):20S-22S

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekmekcioglu C, Strauss G, Feyertag J, Klammer N, Marktl W (2000) The effect of balneotherapy on ambulatory blood pressure. Altern Ther Health Med 6(6):46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erceg-Rukavina T, Stefanovski M (2014) Effects of sulphate-sulphide mineral water “Mlječanica” in patients with hypertension. Materia Socio-Medica 26(6):364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, Anderson SG, Callender T, Emberson J, Chalmers J, Rodgers A, Rahimi K (2016) Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 387(10022):957–967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell M, Dempsey J (2010) Smeltzer and Bare’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia

  • Fisher ND, Curfman G (2018) Hypertension—a public health challenge of global proportions. JAMA 320(17):1757–1759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flack JM, Adekola B (2020) Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines. Trends Cardiovasc Med 30(3):160–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foley D, Ancoli-Israel S, Britz P, Walsh J (2004) Sleep disturbances and chronic disease in older adults: results of the 2003 National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America Survey. J Psychosom Res 56(5):497–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein LB (2004) Blood pressure management in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Hypertension 43(2):137–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartinah D, Sofyan A, Syafiq A The effect of hydrotherapy on blood pressure of the hypertensive patients in public hospital of RA. Kartini Jepara. In: Third International Conference on Sustainable Innovation 2019–Health Science and Nursing (IcoSIHSN 2019), 2019. Atlantis Press, pp 96–99

  • Hasyar ARA, Rasyid H, Idris I, Yusuf I (2021) Effect of artificial carbon dioxide-rich water immersion on peripheral blood flow in healthy volunteers: preliminary study about artificial carbon dioxide-rich water. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 9(A):527–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidenreich PA, Trogdon JG, Khavjou OA, Butler J, Dracup K, Ezekowitz MD, Finkelstein EA, Hong Y, Johnston SC, Khera A (2011) Forecasting the future of cardiovascular disease in the United States: a policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 123(8):933–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson LA, Richard CA, Macey PM, Runquist ML, Yu PL, Galons J-P, Harper RM (2004) Functional magnetic resonance signal changes in neural structures to baroreceptor reflex activation. J Appl Physiol 96(2):693–703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ignatavicius DD, Workman ML, Conley P, Rose D, Lee AH (2012) Clinical decision-making study guide for medical-surgical nursing-revised reprint: patient-centered collaborative care. Elsevier Health Sciences, Amsterdam

  • Kapetanović A, Hodžić S, Avdić D (2013) The effect of mineral radon water applied in the form of full baths on blood pressure in patients with hypertension. J Health Sci 3(1):38–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasron K, Susilawati S (2017) The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on sleep quality in patients with hypertension in South Cilacap City. Nurscope: Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pemikiran Ilmiah Keperawatan 3(2):20–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khotimah K (2012) Pengaruh Rendam Air Hangat pada Kaki dalam Meningkatan Kuantitas Tidur Lansia. In: Seminar Nasional Competitive Advantage 2012. Universitas Pesantren Tinggi Darul’Ulum

  • Kubo SH, Rector TS, Bank AJ, Williams RE, Heifetz SM (1991) Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is attenuated in patients with heart failure. Circulation 84(4):1589–1596

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunes J, Zicha J, Jelinek J, Zicha J, Jelínek J (2004) The role of chloride in deoxycorticosterone hypertension: selective sodium loading by diet or drinking fluid. Physiol Res 53(2):149–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lalage Z (2019) Hidup Sehat Dengan Terapi Air

  • Lin P-H, Tyson CC, Batch BC, Svetkey LP (2017) Nutrition, lifestyle, and hypertension. Nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease. Elsevier, pp 625–655

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Xu X, Shang R, Chen Y (2018) Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as an important risk factor for the increased cardiovascular diseases and heart failure in chronic kidney disease. Nitric Oxide 78:113–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luft FC, Zemel MB, Sowers JA, Fineberg NS, Weinberger MH (1990) Sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride: effects on blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis in normal and hypertensive man. J Hypertens 8(7):663–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mancia G, Parati G, Pomidossi G, Casadei R, Di Rienzo M, Zanchetti A (1986) Arterial baroreflexes and blood pressure and heart rate variabilities in humans. Hypertension 8(2):147–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mancia G, De Backer G, Dominiczak A, Cifkova R, Fagard R, Germano G, Grassi G, Heagerty AM, Kjeldsen SE, Laurent S (2007) 2007 Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: the task force for the management of arterial hypertension of the european society of hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur Heart J 28(12):1462–1536

    Google Scholar 

  • Michalsen A, Lüdtke R, Bühring M, Spahn G, Langhorst J, Dobos GJ (2003) Thermal hydrotherapy improves quality of life and hemodynamic function in patients with chronic heart failure. Am Heart J 146(4):728–733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills KT, Bundy JD, Kelly TN, Reed JE, Kearney PM, Reynolds K, Chen J, He J (2016) Global disparities of hypertension prevalence and control: a systematic analysis of population-based studies from 90 countries. Circulation 134(6):441–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills KT, Stefanescu A, He J (2020) The global epidemiology of hypertension. Nat Rev Nephrol 16(4):223–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MoiniJazani A, Ayati MH, Nadiri AA, NasimiDoostAzgomi R (2022) Efficacy of hydrotherapy, spa therapy, and balneotherapy for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis: a systematic review. Int J Dermatol 62(2):177–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morimoto S, Sasaki S, Itoh H, Nakata T, Takeda K, Nakagawa M, Furuya S, Naruse S, Fukuyama R, Fushiki S (1999) Sympathetic activation and contribution of genetic factors in hypertension with neurovascular compression of the rostral ventrolateral medulla. J Hypertens 17(11):1577–1582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nasermoaddeli A, Kagamimori S (2005) Balneotherapy in medicine: a review. Environ Health Prev Med 10(4):171–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura N, Sugenoya J, Matsumoto T, Kato M, Sakakibara H, Nishiyama T, Inukai Y, Okagawa T, Ogata A (2002) Effects of repeated carbon dioxide-rich water bathing on core temperature, cutaneous blood flow and thermal sensation. Eur J Appl Physiol 87(4):337–342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nu’im Haiya N, Ardian I, Luthfa I (2018) Hydroterapy in influencing the changes of elderly blood pressure. In: Proceedings International Conference BKSPTIS 2018

  • Ogah OS, Okpechi I, Chukwuonye II, Akinyemi JO, Onwubere BJ, Falase AO, Stewart S, Sliwa K (2012) Blood pressure, prevalence of hypertension and hypertension related complications in Nigerian Africans: a review. World J Cardiol 4(12):327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parati G, Ochoa JE, Lombardi C, Bilo G (2013) Assessment and management of blood-pressure variability. Nat Rev Cardiol 10(3):143–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Granados AM, Navas-Carretero S, Schoppen S, Vaquero MP (2010) Reduction in cardiovascular risk by sodium-bicarbonated mineral water in moderately hypercholesterolemic young adults. J Nutr Biochem 21(10):948–953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Putri ME, Nasrullah D (2020) Effect of hydrotherapy warm red ginger to reduce blood pressure on elderly at Panti Werdha Budi Luhur, Jambi. Indian J Public Health Res Dev 11(3):1968–1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Santoso DA (2015) Pengaruh terapi rendam kaki air hangat terhadap penurunan tekanan darah pada lansia penderita hipertensi di wilayah kerja upk puskesmas khatulistiwa kota Pontianak. ProNers 3 (1). https://doi.org/10.26418/jpn.v3i1.11393

  • Setiawan LRS, Santjaka A (2021) The effectiveness of acupressure and warm foot soak hydrotherapy on increasing muscle strength and range of motion among non-hemorrhagic stroke patients. Int J Nurs Health Serv (IJNHS) 4(4):430–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Shantsila A, Dwivedi G, Shantsila E, Butt M, Beevers DG, Lip GY (2011) Persistent macrovascular and microvascular dysfunction in patients with malignant hypertension. Hypertension 57(3):490–496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sherwood L (2001) Fisiologi manusia dari sel ke sistem. In: EGC

  • Singh P, Gupta RK, Jan R, Raina SK (2017) Adherence for medication among self-reporting rural elderly with diabetes and hypertension. J Med Soc 31(2):86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sykora M, Diedler J, Rupp A, Turcani P, Rocco A, Steiner T (2008) Impaired baroreflex sensitivity predicts outcome of acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Crit Care Med 36(11):3074–3079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umay E, Tezelli MK, Meshur M, Umay S (2013) The effects of balneotherapy on blood pressure and pulse in osteoarthritis patients with hypertension. Altern Ther Health Med 19 (6):16–21

  • van der Giet M, Tölle M (2015) New hypertension guidelines: progression or a step backwards in hypertension? Curr Hypertens Rep 17(7):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • van Tubergen A, van der Linden S (2002) A brief history of spa therapy. Ann Rheum Dis 61(3):273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhagen AP, Bierma‐Zeinstra SM, Boers M, Cardoso JR, Lambeck J, de Bie R, de Vet HC (2007) Balneotherapy for osteoarthritis. Cochrane database of systematic reviews (4). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006864

  • Warseno A, Sukmawati AS (2019) Effect of hydrotherapy on sleep deficiency among older people in integrated community health services in Pandak I Bantul. Front Nurs 6(1):67–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y-J, Elimban V, Dhalla NS (2017) Carbon dioxide water-bath treatment augments peripheral blood flow through the development of angiogenesis. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 95(8):938–944

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaenal Z (2018) PENGARUH RENDAM KAKI AIR HANGAT TERHADAP PENURUNAN TEKANAN DARAH PADA PENDERITA HIPERTENSI DI PSTW GAU MABAJI KABUPATEN GOWA. Jurnal Ilmiah Keperawatan Dan Kebidanan Holistic Care 2(02):156–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman MC, Lazartigues E, Sharma RV, Davisson RL (2004) Hypertension caused by angiotensin II infusion involves increased superoxide production in the central nervous system. Circ Res 95(2):210–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ziomber A, Machnik A, Dahlmann A, Dietsch P, Beck F-X, Wagner H, Hilgers KF, Luft FC, Eckardt K-U, Titze J (2008) Sodium-, potassium-, chloride-, and bicarbonate-related effects on blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis in deoxycorticosterone acetate-treated rats. Am J Physiol-Ren Physiol 295(6):F1752–F1763

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zunnunov Z (2003) Clinical efficiency and tolerance of hydrogen sulfide balneotherapy in hypertensive patients living in arid zone. Ter Arkh 75(8):32–35

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Ardabil University of Medical Sciences for their support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Traditional Medicine and Hydrotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University Of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, 5618985991, Iran

    Arezoo Moini Jazani, Hamidreza Nasimi Doost Azgomi, Alireza Nasimi Doost Azgomi & Ramin Nasimi Doost Azgomi

  2. Students Research Committee, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran

    Hamidreza Nasimi Doost Azgomi & Alireza Nasimi Doost Azgomi

Authors
  1. Arezoo Moini Jazani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hamidreza Nasimi Doost Azgomi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alireza Nasimi Doost Azgomi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ramin Nasimi Doost Azgomi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The authors’ responsibilities were as follows: R.N.D.A. and A.M.J. wrote the original paper; A.R.N.D.A and H.R.N.D.A contributed to data collection; provided advice and consultation and contributed to the final revision of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramin Nasimi Doost Azgomi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Moini Jazani, A., Nasimi Doost Azgomi, H., Nasimi Doost Azgomi, A. et al. Effect of hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and spa therapy on blood pressure: a mini-review. Int J Biometeorol 67, 1387–1396 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02512-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02512-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation