Hot tubs and spas have been used since ancient times, owing to their relaxing and therapeutic benefits. Back then, having access to one was a lavish amenity that few people could afford to enjoy. Nowadays, owning your own hot tub is more than a luxury, because research has proven they provide an array of health benefits.
Effective Pain Management
According to the National Institute of Health, the majority of American adults experience pain at some point in their lives. For most, this pain is relatively minor and brief, such as soreness from a recent workout, shoveling heavy snow, or from tackling various home projects. Yet more than ten percent suffer from chronic pain every day, whether it be arthritis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, or persistent back pain. The NIH reports that pain is one of the main reasons why people look to alternative health modalities for relief.
Hot tubs have been proven to effectively alleviate pain, according to an endorsement by the Arthritis Foundation. Steam opens up the breathing passages, improving the lungs’ ability to increase the amount of oxygen circulating throughout the body. Likewise, the heat of the water relaxes the muscles, expands blood vessels and increases the heart rate, enabling the circulatory system to deliver that oxygen to sore and aching muscles. In addition, the buoyancy of the water and effervescent bubbles relax the muscles and take pressure off aching joints and the back.
Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as type 2 diabetes, is a metabolic blood disease that results in too much sugar remaining in the blood stream. A recent CDC report estimates that nearly ten percent of the American population currently suffers from this condition, and estimates that another 84 million will be diagnosed within the next five years.
In the same way that the heat of the water improves cardiovascular circulation to alleviate pain, it can also moderate blood sugar levels. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that the increased body temperature resulting from sitting in a hot tub can mimic the beneficial effects of exercise. Patients that soaked in hot tubs six days a week for 30 minutes per day reduced their blood sugar levels by an average of 13 percent over the course of the study. As a result, regular hot tub therapy is now recommended for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, especially for those who are unable to exercise.
Relaxation and Improved Sleep
We’ve all experienced feelings of irritability and mental slowness after a bad night’s rest, but prolonged periods of sleepless nights will begin to impact your immune system and mental well-being. In fact, lack of deep, quality sleep can increase susceptibility to serious medical conditions that include depression, heart disease and diabetes.
Soaking in a spa like a Dreammaker hot tub after a stressful day or before getting into bed will provide relaxation and improve sleep. The sound and sensation of hot water, the massage from the jets and the weightless feeling generated by the bubbles all work together to significantly reduce not only physical stress, but mental stress and anxiety. Muscles relax, aches and strains subside, and relaxation increases, all resulting in a better night’s sleep with fewer disruptions.
All the research outlined in this article has proven what people hundreds of years ago already knew—that hot tubs are beneficial for our health and wellness! They can alleviate pain, moderate our blood sugar levels, increase relaxation and improve sleep. As a result, it’s even possible to get a medical deduction on your income taxes for purchasing a hot tub.
