Lifestyle10 Health Benefits of Hot Tubs and Hydrotherapy

10 Health Benefits of Hot Tubs and Hydrotherapy

Soaking in a hot tub is something most of us like to do. They are the perfect place to relax and unwind after a stressful day. However, you might not realise that they are also linked with a host of health benefits. To find out more, see the list of the most significant health benefits below:

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  1. They Can Help to Reduce Stress

It is a common misconception that soaking in hot water increases stress; however, it actually does the opposite. If you’ve ever soaked in hot tubs in Ireland, you’ll know just how good they are at helping relieve stress. Many studies have shown that immersing yourself in hot water not only helps to reduce your stress levels, but it can also decrease depression symptoms. It does this by helping to calm your nervous system, which in turn helps improve your mood. And while hot tubs probably aren’t going to cure all mental health issues, they can give you time to relax and unwind. 

  1. They Can Help Improve Sleep

Lots of people have trouble falling asleep at night. If you’re one of these individuals, you’ll be pleased to hear that a hot tub could help you. Hot tubs help your muscles to relax, as well as boost your mood, both of which are necessary to prepare you for sleep. 

  1. They Can Help Improve Your Body’s Range of Motion

It’s common to suffer mobility issues as we get older. This process is gradual for the majority of us, but for others, it happens suddenly, depending on factors such as activity levels, injuries, genetics, and the presence of medical conditions, such as arthritis. 

Thankfully, there are some things we can do to improve our range of motion as we age. One of these things is to take a dip in the hot tub. The warm water in a hot tub works to create hydrostatic pressure. This has many benefits, including helping to restore flexibility and reduce the natural stiffening that comes with age. As well as this, it helps reduce joint inflammation, which in turn improves mobility.

  1. They Can Aid Recovery from Exercise

If you’re an exercise junkie but often suffer from injuries, you might like to find out that taking a dip in the hot tub could help. Immersing yourself in a hot tub, enhanced by the massaging pulse of the jets, can help relieve lactic acid (the cause of muscle soreness) and post-workout aches and pains. You can even use the hot tub to target specific areas of your body, such as your shoulders after a long day of weight training or your legs after a long run. 

  1. They Can Help Reduce Blood Pressure

It’s common knowledge that soaking in hot water widens your blood vessels. When our blood vessels get larger, our blood pressure reduces. This means that relaxing in a hot tub can benefit people with high blood pressure. However, spending time in a hot tub is not advised if you have low blood pressure, as it could lead to your blood pressure dropping to dangerously low levels. 

  1. Helps Heart Health

Another considerable benefit of relaxing in a hot tub is that it can help your heart health. A recent survey conducted in the UK found that people who take long, hot baths, or those who regularly use hot tubs, were much less likely to develop heart disease. However, it’s important to note that for this to work for you, you must also ensure you lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes regular exercise and eating healthily. 

  1. They Can Help Reduce Lower Back Pain

According to a recent survey, almost 80% of UK adults have or have previously suffered from lower back pain. Lower back pain is one of the worst pains you can experience. It can be debilitating and can leave many sufferers unable to work. Fortunately, relaxing in a hot tub has been proven to help reduce the amount of pain people experience. Multiple studies of people with chronic back pain, who spent time in hot tubs, saw reduced symptoms. However, while these studies showed improvement, they do not replace the advice given by a doctor. 

  1. They Can Help Relieve Arthritis

Thousands of people in the UK have arthritis. Arthritis is a painful condition characterised by joint swelling and pain, accompanied by a decreased range of motion. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This form of arthritis results from a loss of cartilage between the bones, leading to pain caused by friction. However, there are other types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, which causes widespread pain throughout the body. 

Thankfully, hot tubs can help people living with arthritis. Warm water has been proven to stimulate blood flow to tender joints and stiff muscles. When blood flow increases, people with arthritis get a slightly better range of motion in their joints, meaning they can do some gentle stretches. This, in turn, can help improve their pain. 

  1. Relief for Fibromyalgia Sufferers

Similar to how hot tubs help people with arthritis, they can also help people with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disorder involving chronic fatigue and pain throughout the body. This often results in disturbed sleep and an inability to focus on specific tasks. 

However, there is hope; a recent study found that hot tubs can benefit people with this condition. Many patients with fibromyalgia who regularly spent time in hot tubs reported improved sleep quality, physical function, and the ability to do their jobs. On top of this, their pain was reduced, they felt more awake, and they were less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression. 

  1. Encourage Weight Loss

It is believed that soaking in the hot tub for one hour burns the same number of calories as going for a 30-minute walk. This means that soaking in a hot tub can aid weight loss

As you can see, relaxing in a hot tub has many benefits. Not only can it help to relieve stress, but it can also help reduce pain and improve range of motion. If you suffer from any of the conditions listed above, why not give sitting in a hot tub a go?

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