The primary health benefit of using a hot tub for many is its ability to relax tense muscles. When you slip into the hot water, muscles which are tired and sore begin to feel better instantly. If your hot tub has hydrotherapy jets, then the massage it provides can enhance this affect. This is why, for many, a hot tub isn’t just about entertainment or improving the value of a home. It’s an investment into their personal well-being.
Relaxation is just one of several proven health benefits that come with using a hot tub. Here are some others for your consideration.
- Pain Relief
If you have sore joints, then some time in the hot tub can be the perfect solution. The increased heat encourages more blood movement and this helps to take inflammation markers away from overused knees, ankles, elbows, and more. Combine this with the muscle relaxation benefit and people with arthritis can even experience relief from chronic joint pain.
- Reduce Blood Sugar Levels
Just 5-10 minutes in a hot tub can begin to reduce blood sugar levels, which can be an important benefit for those who have been diagnosed with diabetes. The buoyancy of the water can also help those with diabetes be able to exercise more effectively if they are dealing with nerve pain issues in their feet, hands, or other locations.
- Stop Stress
If you can stop stress, then you can naturally reduce your muscle tension. What you can do with your hot tub is enhance the stress reduction benefit by adding aroma therapy to your spa water, play meditation music in the background, or create the perfect environment for you to step away from the world for a while. High blood pressure is often associated with stress as well and a hot tub can naturally lower those numbers because of the superheated water.
- Reduce Insomnia
Because hot tubs can reduce stress and cause muscles to relax, many report that they can sleep better every night when they use a hot tub regularly. The hot water helps to trigger the body’s natural sleep mechanism, which is then enhanced as body temperatures cool down after you step out of the water. You can fall asleep faster, sleep for longer uninterrupted periods, and wake up feeling incredibly refreshed.
- Weight Management
This health benefit comes from the fact that a hot tub can stimulate blood circulation. This causes heart rates to increase, so with the lower blood pressure, the end result mimics mild exercise. Add in the water buoyancy that takes weight off of joints and limbs and a hot tub can be an effective place to exercise every day.
The health benefits of using a hot tub are many, but they aren’t without risk. Be sure to review the various risks that are involved with hot tub use so that you can maximize the benefits that are offered (check out our post here). In doing so, you may just discover that you can live a fulfilling life that effectively limits stress, anxiety, and insomnia. If you’re interested in buying your first hot tub, check out our reviews here.