Hot tubs are often associated with parties, good times and hanging out with family and friends. You may wonder, do hot tubs have health benefits? In actuality, the range of health benefits provided by soaking in a hot tub may outnumber its recreational possibilities. To find out how soaking in a hot tub can improve your health, check out this article.
Pain Relief
The two essential components of the hot tub, heat and massage, are excellent for relieving pain. Hot tubs have been used as a pain reliever by professional athletes for decades. The medical establishment has also come onboard and realized that there are true therapeutic values to soaking in the warm, massaging waters of hot tubs. Pain caused by injury, disease or simple overexertion can all be temporarily relieved by spending time in a hot tub. Muscles are relaxed, tension is eased, and circulation is promoted. As the body temperature rises, pleasure inducing hormones are produced and the heart pumps more blood. Blood vessels and capillaries dilate which allows oxygen, nutrients, hormones and other pain-relieving molecules to bathe the affected tissues. Water can also relieve pressure on sore joints and bones.
Stress and Anxiety Relief
Stress and anxiety can develop into very real health problems. Although both stress and anxiety play an indispensable role in everyone’s lives, too much stimulation through these processes can lead to both physical and mental problems. Soaking in a hot tub can be a good way to promote relaxation and counteract these negative aggravations. On a physical level, the heat and massage of the hot tub causes the heart to beat faster which ultimately results in a reduction in blood pressure. Muscles are loosened, tension is reduced, and the body is able to relax. Mentally speaking, spending time in a hot tub is a good way to disassociate from the stimuli that are causing stress and anxiety. Hot tubs can be a peaceful and relaxing environment that allows one to clear the mind and refocus. Under different conditions, a hot tub can provide a social venue which can be just as effective in taking one’s mind off the stressors and provide a pathway to a better state of mind.
Improved Range of Motion
Injury, chronic disease or lack of physical activity can lead to muscle atrophy, limited mobility and flexibility. Spending time in a hot tub can help counteract the stiffness and rigidity in your muscles and tendons will lead to an improved range of motion. Heat and massage can improve the flow of the blood and help rid the body’s tissues of waste products that can cause pain and hinder motion. The water of a hot tub can also provide a supportive environment for exercise. Those who have problems with their equilibrium may find themselves able to perform movements in the water that they may not be confident enough to attempt on dry land. Water can also help reduce impact caused by exercise and allow people who are limited by joint and bone pain to expand their fitness program. Similarly, the buoyancy created by water reduces body weight pressure and may allow for a flexibility that might not be possible on dry land.
Improved Sleeping Patterns
It’s found that getting in and out of a hot tub can simulate the body’s natural thermoregulation processes that occur before we fall asleep. When the body temperature is increased and then followed by a rapid cooling, signals are sent to the brain to cause the onset of sleepiness. By soaking in a hot tub a few hours before one’s desired sleeping time, it’s possible to cue the brain and body into feeling drowsy. If you have trouble with insomnia or maintaining an uninterrupted sleep, using a hot tub may help.
To learn more about the health benefits of a hot tub, download a free buyer’s guide today.