Heat Therapy: Targeting Health, Disease, and Disability.

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Therapeutic Modalities
• Longevity Research

Background:

• Heat therapy has ancient roots as a lifestyle intervention across cultures.
• In recent decades, scientific interest has grown regarding heat therapy's potential for managing aging and disease.
• Existing reviews often focus on single benefits, necessitating a broader synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on heat therapy.
• To evaluate beneficial adaptations, lack of effects, and integrated physiological responses to heat therapy.
• To identify effective heat therapy modalities, target populations, and underlying signaling mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of scientific literature on heat therapy.
• Inclusion of studies demonstrating benefits, no effects, and organ crosstalk.
• Analysis of physiological systems, pathways, and specific signaling mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Heat therapy demonstrates varied effects across different organs and physiological systems.
• Specific forms of heat therapy confer benefits to particular populations.
• Signaling pathways mediating heat therapy's adaptations are being elucidated, alongside investigations showing limited benefits.

Conclusions:

• Heat therapy presents a promising lifestyle intervention for aging and disease, with identified benefits and limitations.
• Understanding the mechanisms and population-specific effects is crucial for optimizing its therapeutic application.
• This review offers a consensus for scientists, clinicians, and the public on heat therapy's role in health.