Bathing in a hot tub is a great way to relax and unwind at the end of a long day. But hot tubs are much more than just a nice place to hang out; they also offer a range of health benefits.
Hot tubs can help you relax while also alleviating discomfort, reducing tension, enhancing circulation, and increasing blood flow. To get these benefits, aim for a few 30-minute hot tub sessions each week. Certain people, including pregnant women and young children, should avoid hot tub use.
Familiarizing yourself with the advantages of using a hot tub will enable you to take action to improve your health while also having fun. Let’s look at five important ways hot tubs can enhance your health. We’ll also go over who should avoid hot tubs and some safety tips to keep in mind.
What Are the Top Health Benefits of Hot Tubs?
Although there are countless potential benefits from bathing in a hot tub, here are five of the most important ones to be aware of:
1. Muscle Relaxation
Combining hot tub jets and warm water has profound muscle relaxation benefits. The repetitive action of the jets mimics a massage, which can reduce muscle tension. In no time at all, you should feel more relaxed and less tense.
If you frequently experience muscle pain and stress, routinely using a hot tub for 15 to 30 minutes may alleviate your problem. Using a hot tub can be especially beneficial to people who regularly exercise and experience muscle tightness and pain.
2. Stress Relief
Hot tubs are frequently utilized to reduce stress. Hot tub time has a hugely beneficial impact on reducing stress. Your stress and anxiety from tough days or situations can melt away in a hot tub.
The body will rest thanks to the heated water, which will also assist the mind in unwinding. You may add relaxing music, mood lighting, or specific scents to your hot tub experience to boost the stress-reducing effects.
3. Cardiovascular Health
Hot tubs can work to improve cardiovascular health. Simultaneously, the hot water will lower blood pressure and increase the heart rate. Achieving this through heat therapy is vital in reducing the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular complications.
Although you can safely use hot tubs for up to 30 minutes, you may attain these benefits from just 10 minutes of use. So, if you wish to maximize your cardiovascular health and don’t have much time to spare, you can do so through hot tub usage.
4. Improved Sleep
The relaxation you can attain from hot tub use can help improve your sleep. A more relaxed physical and mental state will help you attain a significantly deeper and more peaceful sleep.
Whether you experience insomnia or simply struggle to drift off due to stress, you might find that regular heat therapy through hot tub usage could work to improve your sleep.
5. Detox
Hot tubs offer excellent detoxification benefits. People might look for a detox when they feel tired, bloated, or generally unwell.
Using a hot tub works to help burn calories and reset the body. The heat from a 30-minute soak could equal the same calories burned from a 30-minute walk.
Who Should Avoid Hot Tubs?
Although hot tubs are generally safe for most people, they can pose risks for those of a certain age or with particular health concerns. If you’re concerned about your health and safety during hot tub use, having a conversation with your doctor is a great first step to take.
Those who should generally avoid hot tubs include:
- People with heart problems: If you suffer from heart disease or other concerns, it’s best to avoid hot tub use. Although hot tubs can benefit cardiovascular health, hot water could negatively affect your heart rate and blood pressure.
- Anyone prone to low blood pressure: As hot tubs can lower your blood pressure, it’s advised to avoid using them if you’ve already experience low blood pressure. Using a hot tub could make your blood pressure drop to dangerously low levels, which could cause lightheadedness or fainting.
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women should avoid using hot tubs as the excessive heat can cause harm.
- Young children: Although it can be safe for children to use a hot tub, it’s best if they wait until they’re a bit older. Young children might not be aware of the safety rules. Furthermore, the hot water could burn their skin, and they might not notice.
- Those with skin injuries: Anyone with skin injuries should avoid hot tub use and the use of any hot water. Burns, cuts, sores, and open wounds should be kept away from heat sources and only be soothed and washed with mild water. Avoiding hot tubs will reduce the risk of further complications.
- Those with UTIs: Should you experience a urinary tract infection (UTI), you should avoid hot tub use as it could cause the infection to spread. The hot water could also worsen your symptoms.
Awareness of these health concerns and addressing them appropriately will ensure that you don’t put your health at risk when using a hot tub. If you experience any of the issues or ailments above, consult a doctor regarding whether you can use a hot tub.
Other Safety Tips to Keep in Mind
To ensure you maintain and maximize your safety, there are some other safety tips to keep in mind.
Firstly, you should avoid using hot tubs for too long. It’s recommended to use hot tubs for up to 30 minutes. Extended sessions can be 45 minutes if you’re in good health and the water isn’t too hot.
If you use a hot tub for too long, you could experience health problems such as dehydration, fainting, skin burns, overheating, and dangerously low blood pressure.
It’s also important to never to use a hot tub where the water is above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the maximum temperature you should have the water to avoid overheating and ensure you get the best health results. Excessively hot water will put you at a higher risk of experiencing health issues.
If the external temperature is particularly hot, reduce the water temperature in the tub. Outside air temperature will affect how long it’s safe to use a hot tub.
Furthermore, be sure to stay hydrated when using a hot tub. Not only will extra hydration promote good health, but it will also reduce the risk of overheating, nausea, and fainting.
Keep water close by when using a hot tub, and hydrate yourself throughout your session. It’s recommended to consume water while in a hot tub and avoid alcohol and hot drinks. Alcohol and caffeine can quickly dehydrate you, making you vulnerable to health risks.
If you wish to use a hot tub regularly, make sure you understand and practice these safety tips. That way, you can avoid health complications and attain the 5 amazing benefits of heat therapy through hot tub use.
