Is there anything better than the thought of heading outside for a soak in your very own hot tub after a long day of work? Or of starting the weekend off in the golden morning sunlight, laughing with your partner from the hot tub as you debrief your weeks together? It’s hard not to love the idea of having your own hot tub – but did you know that the health benefits of a hot tub can have a significant positive impact on your daily life?

Owning a hot tub is more than just a luxury – it’s an investment in your future. Regular hot tub use carries significant health benefits, and having access to one at your fingertips could improve your quality of life in remarkable ways.

Curious how owning a hot tub could make you healthier – and, by extension, happier? Keep reading for everything you need to know.

What Are the Health Benefits of a Hot Tub?

Ready to discover how spending time in a hot tub could be the addition to your daily routine that you need? Here are just a few ways that adding some hot tub therapy to your life can improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Relieve Aches & Pains

If you struggle with sore muscles or are in need of pain relief, a soak in the hot tub can work wonders for your body. Before you pop a painkiller, try letting the warm water and massaging pressure of the hot tub jets promote muscle relaxation. Time in the water takes pressure off of your joints, and hot water immersion can help reduce your risk of injury when regularly participating in physical activity.

Improve Circulation

For people who regularly experience symptoms of poor circulation, such as swelling, tingling, or irregular body temperature (particularly in the feet or hands), time in the hot tub can make a huge difference in promoting more regular blood flow throughout the body. The warm temperature of the water works to dilate your blood vessels, allowing for enhanced circulation.

Reduce Stress

The beneficial effects of hot tub use are more than just physical – research shows that time in the hot tub can positively impact your mental health as well.

In addition to relaxing tense muscles, hot water is known to calm the nervous system and help your body release endorphins, which are responsible for improved mood. If the stresses of everyday life are beginning to get to you, escaping to the quiet of a hot tub can make all the difference in reducing stress and giving you a fresh peace of mind.

Plus, if you soak with a trusted partner or a loved one, the quality time together will also help promote stress relief and lower anxiety levels.

Improve Sleep

Can’t sleep? Oftentimes, struggling to fall asleep results from muscle tension or high stress levels, so the stress relief that comes from spending time in the hot tub also improves a person’s sleep by proxy. But that’s not the only way that a good soak can help you achieve better sleep.

Your body temperature naturally begins to drop when it’s time to start winding down for the night, so the temperature drop of relaxing in the hot tub and subsequently getting out of the water lets your body know that it’s time to get some shut eye.

Don’t get in the hot tub right before you plan to sleep, though! You have to remember to give your body time to cool off and let your temperature drop afterwards. Plan to get out of the tub 60-90 minutes before you go to sleep – it’s the perfect beginning to your bedtime routine.

Reduce Inflammation

Arthritis patients often find that regular hot tub hydrotherapy can make a huge difference in their chronic joint pain. This is because the heated water helps to ease stiffness, swelling, and inflammation, allowing for more comfortable, pain-free increased range of motion, especially for older people who are unable to exercise.

Aid Recovery

Many athletes make hot tub use a regular part of their routine in order to keep their body in top shape – and it’s not just because the hot water temperature works to relieve achy muscles. The increased circulation that comes from hot tubbing helps deliver oxygen and necessary nutrients to muscles, aiding in the process of healing and rebuilding muscles after an intense workout. It reduces muscle fatigue, and helps athletes bounce back into the rest of their day after even the most grueling sessions.

Lower Blood Pressure

If you struggle with high blood pressure, time in the hot tub can be incredible for your cardiovascular health. As soaking in a hot tub improves circulation, it also lowers high blood pressure, helping you feel better and more relaxed overall.

It is important to note, however, that using a hot tub is not a replacement for treating high blood pressure. While your blood pressure will drop when in the hot tub, it will rise again once you’re out of the hot tub, so it’s still important to follow all prescribed medications and treatment protocols from your doctor.

Burn Calories & Increase Metabolism

Don’t get too excited – investing in a hot tub doesn’t mean that it’s time to say goodbye to your gym membership. However, soaking in a hot tub does burn calories – in fact, some studies have shown a 30-minute soak to burn the same amount of calories as a 30-minute walk, making hot tubs a valuable tool for people who are physically unable to exercise due to limited motion.

Hot tub use can also increase your metabolism, which is helpful for those trying to lose weight. You may see jokes online about the new diet in town – “The Hot Tub Diet” – and while hot tubs are no replacement for healthy food choices and exercise, they can be helpful for people trying to drop a few extra pounds.

Soak With Caution

There are few things that we love more than the hot tub experience – however, daily hot tub use is not safe for everyone.

Here are a few reasons you might want to hold off on going for a soak:

• You’re pregnant. High body temperatures can be dangerous for both you and your baby when you’re pregnant. This is especially true in the first trimester, but it’s probably best to wait until after your baby has been delivered.
• You have low blood pressure. Hot tub use lowers blood pressure, so if you already have low blood pressure, spending time in the hot tub can cause fainting.
• You have cardiovascular disease. While hot tub use can be great for some people struggling with heart disease, it can be extremely dangerous for others. If you have heart disease, talk to your doctor before getting in the hot tub.
• You’re sick. If not well maintained, germs can breed in hot tubs, thriving in the heat. If you’re under the weather and share your hot tub with other members of your family, save your next soak for when you’re feeling better, just in case.
• You are alone and have epilepsy. If you experience seizures, never spend time in the hot tub without a partner or trusted family member.
• You have open cuts or sores. Wait until skin has healed to avoid irritation or infection.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Owning a Hot Tub

Still curious about the health benefits of owning a hot tub? Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions.

Does owning a hot tub have mental health benefits?

Absolutely. Hot tubs don’t just benefit your physical health – they offer mental health benefits as well, reducing stress, relieving anxiety, and supporting your sleep quality, which is one of the biggest contributors to mental health.

Can hot tubs help relieve chronic pain symptoms?

Yes. While hot tubs cannot cure chronic pain, they can greatly ease chronic pain symptoms, relieving aches and tension and reducing inflammation.

Do hot tubs relax tight muscles?

Yes! Hot water immersion is one of the best ways to help your body release muscle tension, which can ease everything from sore legs after a workout to joint pain to even chronic back pain.

Say Yes to a Healthier Future With California Custom Pools

Ready to reap all the benefits of owning a hot tub? At California Custom Pools, we offer quality hot tub design and installation, so you can start feeling better with each daily dip.

Visit our website to learn more, or contact us today to schedule a consultation.