The Benefits of Owning a Hot Tub: Relaxation, Health, and More

There is no doubt about it- soaking in a hot tub is relaxing, and it makes your sore muscles feel good. Is there any actual health benefit to it, though? In fact, there is! Using a hot tub for hydrotherapy is an effective, natural way to address various physical and mental health concerns.  Here are some things you should know about the benefits of hot tubs, according to science.

• Hot tubs help alleviate stress. According to research, immersing oneself in hot water can ease stress and decrease the symptoms of depression Stress can cause symptoms like headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, and digestive issues, but soaking in a hot tub can melt this all away, calming your nervous system, boosting your endorphins, and improving your mood.
• Aching muscles benefit from a hot tub soak. The heat from the hot tub loosens tense muscles and improves blood flow, while the buoyancy you experience takes the pressure off of your joints. When you use a hot tub for hydrotherapy, soaking your tired, achy muscles, you can ease muscle spasms, relieve stiffness, and prevent muscle damage from exercise.
• Soaking in a hot tub can help with chronic pain. Studies have shown that chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and sciatica can be improved by a daily soak in a hot tub. The heat combined with jet massage eases tension, and improves circulation, delivering blood to injured muscles and joints to decrease swelling and inflammation.
• Your range of motion may be improved with regular hot tub usage. Soaking in a hot tub increases your blood flow, warming your muscles and making them more pliable. Stretching while in the hot tub can help improve your flexibility and increase mobility.
• Heart health can benefit from hot tub hydrotherapy. Regularly soaking in hot water, whether in a hot bath or a hot tub, can decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. It can also lower your blood pressure, but be cautious: people who already have heart disease or low blood pressure may find their conditions worsened by hot soaks. Talk to your doctor before starting anything new.
• Hot tubs help boost immunity. Heating up your body and encouraging good blood circulation carries white blood cells to any parts of your body that need them, allowing you to fight sickness.
• Using a hot tub is a good way to detox. Just as blood circulation is increased when you warm up in a hot tub, so is the circulation of lymph fluid. This improved circulation can make you sweat, flushing out toxins and letting them be washed away by the water.
• Your sinuses will enjoy a good hot tub soak. If you have clogged nasal passages, the warm, moist air you’ll breathe while soaking in a hot tub will help lessen congestion and alleviate sinus pressure. Some hot tubs even have aromatherapy technology, so that you can use a eucalyptus scent to further loosen the sinuses and get rid of mucus and phlegm.
• Soaking in a hot tub can improve your skin. Because you’re detoxing from the inside out, soaking in a hot tub will naturally wash away skin impurities. Sweating brings bacteria and dirt to the surface, and they, along with dead skin cells, are washed away in the hot water.
• You’ll sleep better after hydrotherapy in a hot tub. Because a hot tub soak relaxes your muscles, calms your nerves, and improves your mood, it can help prepare you for sleep. Heating up in a hot tub and then cooling off when you get out can also help lower your body temperature and make it easier to fall asleep. For best results, soak for about 20 minutes, getting out 90 minutes before you go to bed.
• Your hot tub may even help you lose weight. We’ll be honest: relaxing in the spa won’t burn enough calories for you to see significant weight loss. However, all of the other benefits combined, from relaxed muscles to greater mobility to better sleep will all help you exercise more effectively. What’s more, by reducing your stress, a regular hot tub can reduce your cravings for sugary or fatty foods.

If you want to improve your health by installing a hot tub in your own backyard, call Aaron Pools and Spas. Established in 1972, this family-owned-and-operated business has a dedicated, award-winning team with over 400 years of combined experience. We love to help improve the quality time that families spend together at home, and that’s why we’ve installed more than 2,000 swimming pools and hot tubs, from Cape Cod to Connecticut. For the best possible service from our highly experienced installation team, call 508.996.3320 or contact us today.