If you have difficulty falling asleep at night and have been searching for natural remedies, you may have found that hot tubs can help regulate sleeping patterns and lead to a deeper, more uninterrupted sleep. Sound too good to be true? Can hot tubs make you tired and actually help you fall asleep? There have been plenty of studies and research that suggest that this is indeed a side effect of hot tub use. To learn more about the wellness benefits of spending time in a hot tub, keep reading below.
Relaxation Leading To Better Sleep
If you have ever spent time in a hot tub, you’ll know firsthand just how relaxing they are to be in. The warm and soothing waters trigger your body to limit the production of stress hormones while increasing the production of pleasure enhancing hormones. It is this combination that creates a state of both physical and mental relaxation.
Physically, the heat and water massage reduce tension in your muscles, allowing them to relax. The buoyancy of the water reduces the pressure of gravity on your joints which allows for decompression by literally lifting the weight of your body. This combination of hormonal and physical changes leads to a state of relaxation which allows your body to fall asleep much more easily.
Better Circulation
When your body temperature rises, it causes your heart to beat faster and that causes blood vessels to dilate, your blood pressure to drop and oxygenated blood to reach more tissues throughout your body. Basically, this is the exact opposite of what happens when you’re physically or mentally stressed. Stress causes the blood vessels to contract, raises blood pressure, and limits oxygen from easily reaching the extremities. If you spend time in a hot tub, you’ll improve your circulation and help your body facilitate its ability to repair and cleanse itself on a cellular level. If you feel relaxed, healthy, and pain-free, you will tend to fall asleep easier and your quality of sleep is better.
Thermoregulation
If you have never heard of thermoregulation, it is a natural cycle controlled by your hypothalamus that allows your body to regulate your core internal temperature. While the range of your ideal body temperature is actually quite low, your temperature does fluctuate throughout the day according to your wake and sleep patterns. For example,
as the day progresses your body temperature rises until the evening when it reaches its peak. This is when your internal temperature begins to fall and that sends which signals to your brain that it’s almost time to fall asleep. When you soak in your hot tub, your core temperature rises, and then when you get out, it falls. This increase and decrease in body temperature simulates the natural thermoregulation cycle and triggers the brain to signal the body to prepare for sleep. If you are battling insomnia or difficulty falling asleep, this is how you can use your hot tub to help make you feel tired and fall asleep with ease.
Dehydration
It is important to be aware that when you spend time in a hot tub, it causes your body to sweat which can lead to dehydration. While in extreme cases, dehydration can lead to exhaustion, even at moderate levels, lacking the proper amount of fluids that your body needs can cause you to feel unwell. It is important to remember to stay well hydrated while soaking in your hot tub, to prevent dehydration.
Timing
Our bodies are generally programmed to fall asleep at night, even though our circadian rhythms can be altered. This can be used as an advantage if you soak in your hot tub in times aligned with your natural circadian rhythms. By just spending just 15 minutes in your hot tub an hour or two before your regular bedtime, you can help regulate your sleeping cycle and allow your body to get the rest it needs.
To learn more about how a hot tub can help your sleeping patterns, download a free buyer’s guide today.