How Hot Tubs Can Improve Your Health

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There’s probably nothing more enticing than the prospect of dipping into a hot tub after a long day. You shouldn’t feel bad about indulging in this treat either as hot tubs can offer many benefits to your physical and mental health! Read on to find out more.

• Stress Buster

Stress from work and relationships have been cited as one of the major causes of health problems. In the UK, stress accounts for 35% of all workplace-related health issues and is the root cause of 25% of workplace absenteeism. Considering how stress can trigger wide-ranging physical, behavioural and emotional changes, it pays to manage our stress level. Amazingly though, hot tubs, through the pulsating jets of water, are capable of reducing our stress level by improving blood circulation, relieving sore muscles and joints, and managing chronic pain (including small pains that we’re sometimes unaware of). One immediate physical improvement which can be seen after a few sessions in the tub is the reduction of blood pressure.

• Help with Arthritis

No, hot tubs won’t cure arthritis, but the buoyancy, warmth and pressure of water can gradually help in managing pain caused by a few types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. This is achieved through a combination of factors, which includes weight offloading (through the buoyancy of water) and quicker oxygen replenishment (heat causes the blood vessels to dilate which enhances blood circulation).

• Insomnia prevention

Brits spend too much time at work (42 hours and 18 minutes a week, the highest in Europe), too much time watching TV, too much time on computers, and too much time stuck in traffic. Considering how hectic our lives are, we should be sleeping early and well each night. Alas, UK citizens unfortunately spend too little time sleeping. Various studies indicate that we sleep between six and 40 minutes less than the recommended average of eight hours.

Lack of sleep impairs cognitive and motor functions, reduces focus and concentration, causes fatigue, and can trigger weight gain or weight loss. Essentially, this leads to more health issues and a lower quality of life. So instead of popping sleeping pills or consuming alcohol to get a good night’s rest, consider a soak in the hot tub for about 20 to 30 minutes every evening. Spice things up with some hot tub accessories like aromatherapy oils and scented candles. You will be shocked at how well you’ll sleep after that!

• Pain reliever

28 million adults in the UK suffer from chronic pain, which is well over a third of the adult population in the country. Rather than relying on pharmacological solutions to address the issue and risking opioid addiction (a serious epidemic in the U.S. right now), why don’t you consider hydrotherapeutic treatment using your hot tub instead? Speak to a doctor or therapist to get the best recommendations, but even without doing so, you can experience immediate improvements simply by soaking yourself in a tub. Once you learn how to use the jets to target specific muscle groups, the effect will noticeably increase. Even joint pains at the heels or knees caused by daily wear and tear can be mitigated with hydrotherapy!