[Study] Hot tubs outperform saunas in boosting blood flow and immune power

Owning a hot tub is more than just luxurious relaxation. The health benefits are often the main selling point for many people. A recent study by the University of Oregon outlines some of the amazing health benefits experienced by people who use hot tubs. By monitoring body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and immune cell populations, the researchers were able to see the difference between hot tub use and sauna use.

If you are looking for additional wellness in your home, a hot tub might just be the thing for you.

Background

Heat therapy can come in different forms. Whether you want dry heat or moist heat, there are options. From heat packs to saunas and hot tubs, the choice is yours. Research into the most effective form is limited, and so the team at University of Oregon explored and compared the health benefits of saunas and hot tubs.

Using passive heat therapy, in the forms of hot water immersion (HWI), traditional dry sauna (TRAD), or far infrared sauna (FIR), is often linked to health and wellness benefits. This study aimed to determine how each mode influences thermoregulation, cardiovascular function, and immune activation. The goal of this study was to discover which form provided the best results.

Study Design

The study consisted of 20 regularly active adults aged between 20 and 28 years old, with an equal split of males and females. Each participant partook in:

These were all carried out with a gap of at least one week per exposure per person.

The following measurements were taken at baseline and throughout the testing:

Trials were conducted in non-heat stressed environments to generate controls.

Key Findings

Core Temperatures

Hot water immersion saw the largest increase in core temperature, with an average of +1.1°C.

Traditional sauna had on average +0.4° change, and far infrared sauna showed no increase.

Cardiovascular Responses

Cardiac output increased the most during hot water immersion. The next highest was traditional sauna, followed by far infrared sauna.

Immune and Inflammatory Responses

Hot water immersion was the only form of heat therapy that resulted in measurable changes to immune and inflammatory responses.

Takeaways & Tips

A major takeaway from this study is that hot water immersion, such as hot tub soaks, are a great way to improve your physical health. Many people will consider a hot tub as an at home retreat, a relaxation tool. But it’s much more than that. For wellness seekers and health-consciousindividuals, adding a hot tub to your home can have positive impacts on your health.

Here are some tips for incorporating heat therapy at home through hot water immersion:

A hot tub is more than just a luxury – it is a wellness investment.

Thie research from the University of Oregon provides evidence that hot tubs are more than an escape, they are a tool for enhancing cardiovascular health and supporting immune function.

If you are looking to elevate your home wellness routine, a Beachcomber could be what you are missing. A place for connection, relaxation, and rejuvenation all at once. Invest in your health and wellbeing – shop now!

Source: 

Atencio, J. K., Reed, E. L., Needham, K. W., Lucernoni, K. M., Comrada, L. N., Halliwill, J. R., & Minson, C. M. (2025). Comparison of thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and immune responses to different passive heat therapy modalities. American Journal of Physiology‑Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 329(R20–R35). https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00012.2025