Benefits Of Hot Tubs

There’s just something about relaxing in the calming embrace of warm water while sharing the experience with some great people that can’t be beat. But while that’s the initial draw of hot tubs for many people there’s far more to the experience. Hot tubs can help you in a number of ways, from increasing the quality of your workout to giving you a better night’s sleep. And you’re about to find out how to get all of those benefits and more.

The Benefits of Hot Tubs

If you already own a hot tub then you’ve undoubtedly experienced some of its health benefits already. But there’s also a good chance that you’re experiencing some of them without even realizing it. As you go through this list, take a moment to think about how they applied to you both before and after using your hot tub. And if you don’t have a hot tub yet, then you might want to think about making the leap. After all, hot tub financing ensures that most people can afford one. And the benefits to your quality of life are pretty amazing for the price.

Reduces Stress

People often talk about heat and stress interchangeably. They weave stories about their blood boiling, getting red with anger, etc. But in reality, heat can be incredibly calming. Think about what it feels like to crawl under the covers in the winter or enjoy the sun on a summer’s day. And, of course, a hot bath is a classic way to relax.

Hot tubs can bring all those feelings and more into your life whenever you want. And there’s a lot more to the experience than feeling calmer when you’re in the soothing hot water. Emotion tends to just roll on like a train unless it’s moved in a different direction. When we’re stressed we tend to stay that way for a very long time. But when you do something to calm those negative feelings the positive ones have a chance to reassert themselves. Relaxing in a hot tub gives you a chance to put your best foot forward when you get out.

Soothes Sore Muscles

You might have applied heat to sore muscles before. But just think about what the application of heat to all of your muscles could do. When you soak in a hot tub after a workout you’re benefiting in a number of ways. Your tight muscles relax just as they would with the application of a heating pad. And the same goes for increased circulation. But again, that benefit extends to your full body when you’re in a hot tub. And the fact that you’re in a buoyant environment also means that pressure on your joints is reduced, helping relieve joint pain you might be experiencing.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Researchers are putting a lot of work into discovering the science behind the various benefits provided by hot tubs. A recent study highlighted how hot tubs help blood flow and resulted in people lowering their blood pressure. The study even showed reduced cardiovascular‐related and all‐cause mortality rates. The exact mechanisms behind some of these effects still require more study. But you don’t have to wait until future studies are completed to take advantage of those benefits. You can lower your blood pressure and experience improved cardiovascular health right now just by relaxing in your hot tub.

Improves Sleep Quality

Sleep is often a hard-won commodity. Most people spend their days under harsh artificial lighting that tells their internal clocks that it’s perpetually high noon. Add in a little stress and it’s easy to see why people have a hard time falling asleep at night. But hot tubs can counteract a lot of those issues. You’ve already seen how they can relax your body and mind. But getting out of a hot tub also lowers your internal body temperature. That’s the same thing that naturally occurs at night when the sun goes down. You can think of hot tubs as a sort of reverse alarm clock that tells your body that it’s time to go to bed.

Increases Range of Motion

You might have used a heating pad on your joints when suffering from chronic pain or reduced range of motion. General muscle stiffness, arthritis, and a number of similar conditions can limit your movement. But heat, such as you’d receive from a heating pad, can provide you with relief from those symptoms. And a hot spa can do the same while also giving you all of the other benefits at the same time.

Improves Muscle Recovery

One of the important points to keep in mind when looking at these benefits is that they all work together to create something greater than the sum of their parts. When you sleep better, improve your blood pressure, increase muscle relaxation, and reduce stress you’re also going to improve most other aspects of your physical and mental health. These combined effects are so powerful that they can even help reduce the possibility of muscle damage after particularly intense workouts. And if you add a hot tub soak to your workout routine you’ll be able to experience dramatically improved muscle recovery times.

Hot Tubbing Tips

One of the great things about all the listed benefits is that they usually work without needing to put much thought into them. If you’re enjoying your hot tube then you’re going to reap most of the benefits. However, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind in order to make sure you’re getting the most out of your hot tub experience.

Short Periods

There really can be too much of a good thing. And spending too much time in a hot tub can start to decrease the beneficial effects. There’s no single duration that will apply to everyone. But in general, you should start out by limiting your time in the hot tub to around 10 or 15 minutes. You can bump that up over time. But watch out for issues such as dizziness or shortness of breath.

Not Too Hot

It’s also important to make sure that your water is comfortable and not too hot. The human body is capable of adapting itself to an impressive range of temperatures. And you might not even notice if the water temperature has risen too high. That’s why it’s always a good idea to pay attention to the water temperature settings.

You should stick with an absolute maximum temperature of 104° Fahrenheit.

Ensure It’s Well Cleaned

The fact that hot tubs are warm and wet is part of what makes them the perfect place to relax. Unfortunately, that’s also the ideal environment for bacterial growth. It’s important to regularly clean your hot tub in order to reduce the chance of harmful bacterial growth. If bacteria get out of control then you’ll be at risk for everything from swimmer’s ear to pneumonia. Thankfully your hot tub will be perfectly safe and protected against bacteria as long as you ensure it’s properly cleaned on a regular basis.

Don’t Use If Pregnant

The buoyancy of a hot tub can make it an attractive idea for pregnant women. Not to mention the way hot tubs can wash away aches and pains. However, women should avoid using hot tubs for the duration of their pregnancy. Consider how bad an idea it’d be to take a baby into a hot tub. The same general idea applies during pregnancy. The high temperatures which are soothing to adults can be harmful to those who haven’t had a chance to grow into maturity yet. The absolute maximum exposure a pregnant woman should have is about ten minutes. And even then the temperature should be lowered in order to protect the developing baby.

Do It Regularly

While it’s best to avoid using hot tubs for too long at any one time, that doesn’t mean it should be a rare activity. In fact, using your hot tub on a regular basis will help you maximize the benefits you gain from it. Take improved sleep as an example. Sleeping better one night a week would be great. But think how much better you’d feel if you were increasing that to two, three, or more nights of great sleep per week. And the same goes for all of the other benefits like improved muscle recovery. If you hit the gym on a regular basis then you’d benefit from being just as dedicated to a good soak afterward.

The Benefits Begin When You Decide To Take the Plunge

Now that you’ve seen how much a hot tub can do for you it’s time to actually get started. If you don’t have a hot tub then you may be surprised by how affordable they can be. And if you do already have one then read over the tips section again and take the plunge into a happier, healthier, hot tubbing experience.