What if we told you that you could literally soak away the stresses of your day? It sounds great, but how do you go about doing it? We may have the answer for you. So, get all your work and chores done. It’s time to give your body, spirit, and mind some attention and forget about all your worries. 

Close out the rest of the world. Fill your hot tub with warm to hot water. Immerse yourself in the hot tub. Sit back and relax. Think only happy thoughts such as starlit skies and sun-kissed beaches. Meditate and enjoy!

Isn’t this a great way to relieve stress? Of course, it is. But that’s not the only thing you’re doing. You’re also improving your health as you relax in your hot tub. Specifically, how do you improve your health? There are many ways explained below:

Benefits of Relaxation
• Vasodilation: Recently, the American Heart Association reported heat from hot tubs leads to vasodilation. Vasodilation is a process in which blood vessels widen. As your blood vessels widen or expand, pain and tension also loosen their grip on your body. According to the AARP, the soothing properties of hot water are enhanced by essential oils aromatherapy.
• Increase Circulation: Your circulation and heart rate are increased by the heat from your hot tub. By using your hot tub on a regular basis, the increased exertion strengthens your heart.
• Reduce physical and mental stress and decrease anxiety: Hot water, the jets’ massage, and the weightlessness feeling of hot tubs are effective in reduction of stress and anxiety. As the hot tub water relieves the gravity effects on your body, you develop a weightlessness feeling. At the same time, the water gently kneads your body providing a hydrostatic effect and a massage-like feeling.
• Prevent headaches: Some evidence has been found that by spending time in a hot tub on a regular basis may help to reduce some types of headaches. As you have an overall feeling of being relaxed when sitting in a hot tub, there is little chance of suffering from a tension-triggered headache. This is partly because your muscles aren’t contracted and your pains and aches go away.

Skeletal Ailments
Spending time in a hot tub provides relief for a person suffering from arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, and bodily pains and aches.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis can be relieved by the water therapy provided by hot tubs. Hot tubs are also a perfect environment for safe exercise of painful and aching muscles and joints due to free movement and increased circulation in the hot water.

Lowers Blood Sugar Level
Currently, some initial research has been done indicating that by spending time in your hot tub, people suffering with type 2 diabetes may lower their blood sugar. Additional research still needs to be done, however, the New England Journal of Medicine conducted a study that had subjects with type 2 diabetes spend at least one half hour, for three weeks, six days each week, submerged in water to their shoulders in a hot tub. At the end of the three weeks, the participating subject’s blood glucose levels lowered from 182 mg/dl to 159 mg mg/dl.

Basically, the result shown by the New England Journal’s study concluded that the hot temperatures provided by a hot tub had effects like those of exercise. The study seems to prove that spending time in a hot tub is an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes patients.

Lowers Blood Pressure
Another aspect of improving your health by relaxing in a hot tub is the lowering of your blood pressure. This is because as your body strives to disperse the excess heat of the hot tub, your heart works faster and harder. This increases your blood flow and produces extra oxygen. As a result, your cells become revitalized. Your cells will dilate due to the increased warmth and decrease resistance against your heart. Your overall blood pressure will then be lowered.

However, you should avoid going back and forth between the pool and hot tub as that would increase your blood pressure.

In Conclusion
Sitting in a hot tub can be a very pleasant experience. However, regular time taken to enjoy your hot tub can also improve your health significantly. For instance, there are several health benefits of sitting in a hot tub, such as relieving the aches and pains of arthritis, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel. You can also lower your blood pressure and people with type 2 diabetes can lower their blood sugar. Make sure to gain those benefits by setting aside 15 minutes a day to relax and enjoy your hot tub.