The Health Benefits of a Hot Tub

There has been a rise in popularity of hot tubs, they are now more affordable and more accessible than ever before. If you cannot afford one, you can rent one for the weekend. But like me, when you think about a hot tub, you think lazy Summer nights in the garden, glass in hand. Or cold Winter getaways in a log cabin somewhere. Or even relaxing after a session at the gym. You have probably never considered the physical health benefits of a hot tub, other than it is a useful tool to unwind after a long, exhausting day. But there are many more reasons you should be soaking in the bubbles. Not that you need them!

Stress Relief

The most widely lauded of the hot tub health benefits, it is well known that the action of soaking in warm water can reduce stress. The hot water raises your body temperature and relaxes your muscles, whilst the hot tub jets can provide a therapeutic massage. You can also choose to add relaxing elements such as aromatherapy and candles which altogether can help with not just physical stress, but any mental or emotional stress you may be carrying.

Muscle relaxation and alleviating pain

You may be surprised to learn that relaxing in a hot tub is recommended for several debilitating conditions including arthritis and fibromyalgia. This is for several reasons. Buoyancy in the water can ease the pressure on muscles as the water supports your body and takes the weight and stress off your joints. The hot water raises your body temperature and increases blood flow to muscles which improves healing. In fact, hot tubs have been recommended by the Arthritis Research Campaign as a way to apply heat to help soothe joint pain, reduce inflammation, and improve everyday movement. There is also evidence to suggest that a soak in a hot tub before exercising can reduce the risk of muscle injury. Not to mention the combination of relaxation and massage releases endorphins in the brain, which acts as natural pain relief.

Better sleep

There have been several studies around the effect of hot water and hydrotherapy on sleep quality. The overall consensus is that even the simple relaxation can help you fall asleep. Not in the hot tub though! The hot water relaxes and soothes your muscles and a study showed that the change in temperature when you get out of a hot tub can also help you fall into a deeper sleep.

Improves Cardiovascular health and lowers blood pressure

There have been several recent studies that show soaking in a hot tub has cardiovascular benefits. The pressure from the water on your body makes your heart work harder, improving your heart health. This can be extra beneficial for people with heart disease and high blood pressure, as just fifteen minutes in a hot tub can simulate exercise, and an hour’s soak can burn around the same calories as going for a 30 minute walk, but it is far less stressful on the heart. So if you want to improve and increase your cardio volume but find it difficult to exercise, or have high blood pressure, then get yourself in a hot tub. It won’t work as a magic cure, but any attempt to keep your heart healthy is a good start. Although if you do have heart disease, we would always recommend you talk to your doctor or physician before using a hot tub to help avoid any complications.

Lowers blood sugar levels

If you are a type 2 diabetic then you may be interested to know that a recent study in the New England journal of medicine, found that laying in a hot tub had similar benefits to exercise, as we referenced earlier in the blog. For patients who spent 30 minutes in a hot tub, six days a week, they not only lost weight, they also had on average, 13% lower blood sugar levels. It may not be a fad diet, but anything that improves your health is to be celebrated. Although you should always take care when getting out of a hot tub in case of a sudden drop in blood sugar.

Although there are clearly many benefits to regularly using a hot tub, there are still some risks too.

• Pregnant people should avoid if possible, as the heat can often cause issues for both you and baby.
• As we said above, people with heart disease or high blood pressure should always consult their doctor before using a hot tub.
• If you have any infection (especially prevalent during a pandemic!) then it is best to wait until you are fully better before having a soak.
• Due to the cardiovascular effects of a hot tub, if you suffer from low blood pressure you may want to avoid spending a lot of time in a hot tub. Especially if you are predisposed to fainting.

Although there needs to be more studies on the health benefits of soaking in a hot tub, there is no doubt that if you need some time to relax, they are an ideal solution. However, you should always remember to stay hydrated when using a hot tub, avoid alcohol (there is always later for beer and cocktails!) and make sure the water does not exceed the maximum recommended temperature of 40°C. And last of all, enjoy!

If you are thinking of buying a hot tub for your home, then please contact us here at Hot tubs and living and we can find the ideal fit for you, as well as providing all the information you need to keep your hot tub properly maintained. We are here to help you get the most of your hot tub.