By Dr Cal Shields MBChB LLM MPhil MRCS (ENT) | Longevity and Aesthetics Doctor

Your arteries are designed to be flexible, expanding and contracting with every heartbeat. However, as we age—often starting as early as our 40s—this elasticity begins to decline. Elastic fibres break down, collagen builds up, and the resulting arterial stiffness becomes a silent precursor to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.

While exercise is the gold standard for vascular health, recent clinical research highlights a powerful, passive alternative: Heat Therapy.

What Is Arterial Stiffness?

As blood vessels become rigid, the heart must work significantly harder to pump blood through the body. This is exacerbated by sedentary lifestyles or metabolic conditions like diabetes. Fortunately, the endothelium—the inner lining of your blood vessels—remains responsive to intervention, even in middle age.

The Science of Passive Heat: How it Works

When you expose your body to the controlled environment of an infrared sauna, your heart rate and cardiac output rise. To cool down, your body sends a surge of blood to the skin. This creates shear stress—a beneficial frictional force against the arterial walls.

This process triggers two vital biological responses:

1. Nitric Oxide Production: Shear stress activates enzymes that produce nitric oxide, a molecule that tells your artery walls to relax and widen.

2. Heat Shock Proteins: Heat triggers "cellular repair crews" that stabilize proteins and lower systemic inflammation.

Proven Results: From Young Adults to Middle Age

The data for heat therapy is compelling across all age groups:

• Young Adults: A study showed that regular hot water immersion improved flow-mediated dilation (vessel expansion) by nearly 200%, a result comparable to intensive exercise.

• The Middle-Age Advantage: A 2024 study found that adults (average age 56) saw a 10% drop in systolic blood pressure immediately following a sauna session.

• Long-Term Protection: Frequent sauna users (4–7 times per week) show a 46% lower risk of developing high blood pressure compared to occasional users.

Why Choose Infrared Therapy?

Infrared saunas are particularly effective because they use light waves to heat the body directly rather than just the surrounding air. This allows for a deeper tissue reset at more comfortable temperatures (60–70°C). For those with limited mobility or joint pain, it provides the cardiovascular benefits of a "passive workout" without physical strain.

Optimising Your Protocol at Thriyv Manchester

At Thriyv, we specialize in evidence-based recovery. Our Manchester City Centre facility on Whitworth Street is designed for high-performance longevity. To achieve measurable arterial improvements, we recommend:

• Frequency: 4–5 sessions per week.

• Duration: 20–30 minutes per session.

• Hydration: Essential before, during, and after to replace lost fluids.

Arterial stiffness is not an inevitable decline. With consistent heat exposure and medical-grade technology, you can effectively "turn back the clock" on your cardiovascular system.

Ready to start your vascular reset? Visit us at Thriyv Manchester for a private, full-spectrum infrared experience. www.thriyv.co.uk

Complement your heat therapy with targeted light—read my latest guide on The sweet spot for red light therapy: How much is too much?