Using a hot tub is an enjoyable and often sociable activity, conjuring memories of pleasant evenings spent looking at the stars with a glass of wine or your preferred tipple in your hand.
Research has shown that relaxing in a hot tub is not just the indulgent activity we think it is! There are tangible health benefits of hot tub usage. Without further ado, let’s investigate why we should all be spending more time in our home hot tubs in 2019 …
Relieves stress
This might seem an obvious point – we all know that hot tubs are relaxing. However, it is vital not to underestimate the stress epidemic that is taking place in our modern world. Common sources of stress include your job, your finances, and the health of family members. Effects of stress include behaviours likely to cause health issues, such as comfort eating unhealthy food, drinking more, or smoking more. You can therefore see how it is important to reduce stress not only to make yourself feel better, but to improve your future health.
The ways that a hot tub contributes to reliving stress is two-fold. Firstly, having the time to sit and soak in warm water and read a good book or talk with friends is mentally relaxing. Secondly, the bubbles and the heat of the hot tub will help to relieve physical tension caused by stress, which avoids problems such as knotted muscles and headaches.
Simulates exercise
Yes, it’s true, studies have shown that the combination of heat and massage from a hot tub can produce some of the same benefits in your body as physical exercise. A good example of this is a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which looked at type 2 diabetics. It is well-known that exercising regularly can improve the blood sugar levels of type 2 diabetics. This study showed that after 30 minutes of hot tub use, 6 days a week for 3 weeks, the participants had, on average, a 13% lower blood sugar level.
Reduces pain and encourages healing
Bathing in a hot tub is well-known to be an effective way of dealing with pain from arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders.
Floating in a hot tub eases the pressure on painful joints and muscles, as they no longer have to work so hard. The heat of the water encourages blood flow, which is a vital element of the healing process. The jets of a hot water can also be used to massage painful body parts, which stimulates the natural release of endorphins. These act both as a painkiller and as a mood enhancer.
If you are excited by the ideas of these health benefits and would like to purchase your own hot tub and get started, please feel free to contact Aegean Spa. We have 30 years of experience in the industry, and as well as selling you high-quality hot tubs, we can also work with you to create the custom hot tub of your dreams.
Reference:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199909163411216