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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06319001

Cardiovascular Reactivity to Physical Stress

It is well-accepted that an exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to physical stress has a prognostic value, indicating a higher cardiovascular risk (e.g., sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, future hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy). However, there is a limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms and therapuetic strategies modulating this response. Therefore, this pilot project aims to explore whether one session of low-volume high-intensity interval training (low-volume HIIT) or combined intermittent heat and cold bath (sauna+cold bath) can decrease BP responses to physical stress. Furthermore, the secondary goal is to investigate whether one brief session learning about positive stress expectations magnifies the decrease in BP following low-volume HIIT and sauna+ cold bath.

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Key information

Conditions

Blood Pressure Stress, Physiological

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Bergen, Vestland, 5063, Norway

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female between 18 to 50 years
  • Non-smoker.
  • Non-obese (<30 kg/m2).
  • Able to walk on a treadmill and cycle on a stationary bike without problems.
  • No or little (frequency < 2 times per month) experience swimming with sauna and cold water.
  • Proficient in Norwegian and able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Current or previous regular smoker
  • Addictions to alcohol or illegal drugs
  • Diagnosed with cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or autoimmune diseases
  • Taking prescription medication with known cardiovascular effects
  • Judgment by a medical provider that exercise, heat therapy, or hydrotherapy poses an undue burden or risk.
  • Cognitive or psychiatric impairment
  • Lack of proficiency in Norwegian language oral or writing skills that will hamper the ability to participate in the interventions and fill out questionnaires.

Treatment and study plan

Low-volume high intensity exercise

Other

This intervention will consist of 10 x 10-second interval sprints on a stationary bicycle interspersed with 50-second breaks between repetitions. The cycle resistance will be adjusted to the level equaling the highest power output, which will be determined during warm-up sprints.

Combined intermittent sauna and cold water bath (sauna+cold bath).

Other

This intervention will consist of 3x10 min bouts in the dry sauna interspersed with 2x 60 seconds of cold water immersion up to the neck.

Primary outcomes

  1. Blood pressure (unit: mmHg) response to laboratory stressors

    Time frame: Assessment will be completed before intervention and approximately 30 minutes after intervention

    Response will be calculated as the change from baseline to peak. Stressors employed include handgrip exercise, post-exercise ischemia, and cold pressor test.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Resting blood pressure (mmHg).

    Time frame: Assessment will be completed before intervention and approximately 30 minutes after intervention

  2. Endothelial function (% dilation)

    Time frame: Assessment will be completed before intervention and approximately 30 minutes after intervention.

    Endothelial function will be assessed using the flow-mediated dilation technique following current guidelines.

  3. Subjective ratings of expectancies (point score).

    Time frame: Assessment will be completed before intervention and approximately 30 minutes after intervention.

    Stress, pain, heat, and cold response expectancies will be assessed with single questions specifically targeted to the interventions and experimental tests using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 0 = no stress, no pain, no discomfort (heat, cold) at all to 10 = worst possible pain, stress, heat/cold discomfort.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Cardiovascular Reactivity to Physical Stress: Strategies and Mechanisms

Acronym: REACT

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 19, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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