Swimming pool contractors in Ohio know that the installation of a hot tub or spa in your house or backyard will turn it into a warm, watery oasis; a way to step away from the rigors of daily life and work and simply unwind. Spas and hot tubs are more than just a way to relax; they bring with them many health benefits and can provide relief to people with arthritis and diabetes.
The Arthritis Foundation has found that arthritis sufferers can find relief from pain with a soak in the hot tub. Starting the day with a 15-minute soak can help loosen the joints and alleviate pain first thing in the morning when they are typically stiffer; starting the day this way may provide relief from pain and stiffness that will last the entire day. Because the heat of the water raises the body temperature, it causes the blood vessels to enlarge and helps to improve circulation. It’s a combination of the heat of the water and the buoyancy that it offers that helps reduce pain and stiffness.
Additionally:
- Soaking in a hot tub can provide relief from pain. From headaches to arthritis (as mentioned), to other bone and joint pains, the heat from the water and the soothing action of the hot tub jets can provide pain relief. Soaking in the hot tub for even 20 minutes can help increase flexibility and remove pressure on sore joints.
- A hot tub soak can bring stress relief. It’s simply relaxing to sink into a jet-filled warm tub of water.
- If you suffer from diabetes, soaking in a hot tub can relieve some of the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar and helping to lose weight. Ask your healthcare professional before you spend too much time in the hot tub, simply because some diabetics suffer from nerve damage. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetics that soak regularly for 30 minutes a day over a three-week period were shown to have lower blood sugar readings. These benefits are similar to the benefits reaped from diabetics that exercise. It’s thought that the combination of soaking will lead to better sleep and this in turn leads to overall general feelings of wellbeing.
- If you have trouble sleeping, taking a soak before bedtime may help you to sleep better and deeper. Soaking in a hot tub will raise your body temperature and then when you cool off (which will happen rapidly once you get out) your body temperature drop may help you sleep better.
- Fighting off a cold? Spending time in the heated water might help you recover more quickly. The steam will help clear nasal passages and breathing better might make you sleep better.
In addition to the benefits a soak in a hot tub brings to arthritis sufferers and diabetics, it also helps to lower blood pressure. If your blood pressure is too high to safely allow you to undertake strenuous exercise, spending time in a hot tub can help lower your blood pressure without putting strain on your heart.
While it hasn’t been completely proven, it’s thought that a hot tub soak can help individuals lose weight. Ask your doctor if soaking in a hot tub would be beneficial for you, regardless of the type of health issue you’re trying to address.
You can work with your swimming pool contractor to have your hot tub installed on a deck, as an add-on to your pool, or in a secluded area of your backyard, hot tubs are structures that can be enjoyed year-round. As a matter of fact, even after the snow is flying, they are sometimes even more enjoyable once the temperatures have dropped as a soak helps get the chill out of your bones!
