Hot Tubs Offer Many Health Benefits

There are three factors at work in a spa: heat, buoyancy and massage. Together, they create a relaxing, soothing hydromassage experience.

Immersion in hot water raises the body temperature and causes the blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation. The buoyancy of the water reduces body weight by approximately 90%, which relieves pressure on joints and muscles and creates the relaxing sensation of weightlessness.

The massaging action of a spa is created by sending a mixture of warm water and air through jet nozzles. This "energized" stream of water loosens tight muscles and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers.

Owning a hot tub, you can discover what ancient cultures knew millennia ago – immersion in hot water can be good for your body, mind and spirit. Besides providing a relaxing experience, a long, soothing soak in your spa could be just what the doctor ordered. A body of well-documented research suggests that hot water immersion can lower your blood pressure, increase blood circulation, loosen tight muscles and release endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers. Here are just a few benefits you may experience from hot water hydromassage therapy:

A natural remedy for insomnia
Increased joint mobility, flexibility and range of motion
Reduction in joint stiffness and swelling
Decreased anxiety
Better, more rejuvenating sleep
Arthritis pain relief*

* Source:
The New England Journal of Medicine September 16, 1999;341:924-925.

Many people affected by arthritis seek relief by soaking in the warm, soothing waters of a spa*. A hot tub can provide the warmth, massage and buoyancy needed to both relax and exercise joints and muscles in the convenience and comfort of your own backyard. Relaxed muscles create an overall feeling of comfort which can then make it easier to perform exercises and carry out daily tasks.

For the more than 16 million people who have diabetes, help may be as close as the nearest hot tub. A study by a Colorado researcher published in the New England Journal of Medicine brings the benefits of hot tub therapy to the surface and sheds new light on the advantages of spa ownership. According to the study, soaking in a hot tub can be beneficial for people who are affected with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

With this type of diabetes, people can often control their condition with regular exercise and a good diet. Unfortunately, many diabetics are physically unable to endure rigorous activity and maintain a steady weight. In a recent study conducted by Dr. Philip Hooper at the McKee Medical Center in Colorado, eight people with Type 2 Diabetes were placed in a hot tub for 30 minutes a day for three consecutive weeks. The results indicated that patients reported a 13% reduction in blood sugar levels, improved sleep and an increase in their overall sense of well being.

Sleep researchers believe that many cases of insomnia can be traced to hectic, stressful lifestyles lived by basically healthy people. The results of sleep deprivation are varied and may cause battered nerves, grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and erratic mood swings.

Immerse Yourself in Liquid Tranquility

So how can you help your body enter a deep sleep? According to a recent study in the scientific journal Sleep, a drop in body temperature can help to ease your body into a deeper, more relaxing sleep. Therefore it is suggested that you soak in very hot water (103° F) approximately 90 minutes before bedtime. This causes the body's internal thermostat to pull your temperature down, enabling sleep to set in with more ease. An ideal way to achieve this is to take a 15-minute soak in a spa. This therapeutic use of warm water is called hydromassage. The beauty of a spa-induced sleep is that it is a natural remedy, unlike alternative sleeping aids such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies and alcohol-all of which can make you feel groggy and have other adverse side effects.

For more information about which hot tub may be perfect for your needs, feel free to visit the web site Spa and Deck. or contact Jill Goode at one of their showroom and service center locations in Blairsville, Ga. or Blue Ridge, Ga.

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