Without the proper supervision and appropriate safety tools, hot tubs can prove many hazards for older adults, such as falling and getting injured. However, when your loved ones are careful, the pros of soaking in a hot tub outweigh the cons. According to medical personnel, soaking in hot tubs carry many benefits for everyone, not just for older adults, and has been used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes for ages. Hence, here are some benefits of hot tubs you may not know of.
Relieves Stress
This is undoubtedly the most obvious benefit of soaking in hot tubs. As the body relaxes under hot water, any tensions developed during the day have the chance to ease up. Water already feels incredibly soothing, so by massaging the body, your loved ones can relieve any physical, mental, and emotional stress they have accumulated. To further enhance the therapeutic experience, we recommend installing dim lights and playing soothing music to calm your loved ones down. They can also consider placing some aromatherapy oils around the bathroom if they enjoy scents.
Relaxes the Muscles
As mentioned above, hot water can help to soothe the muscles, which relieves any aches and pains. As your loved ones get older, they’ll realize that their bodies are no longer as physically mobile, so the smallest actions can cause their bodies to stress up and develop tense muscles. At times, this is inevitable or takes a long time to build up strength, so there needs to be an effective and efficient recovery. This is where hot tubs come in. We also advise soaking in hot tubs after participating in strenuous activities like exercising in order to lessen the risk of injuries.
Improves Sleep Patterns
There are many reasons that can cause sleep changes in loved ones. Poor sleep quality negatively affects your loved ones’ lives as it can impact their mood and day-to-day functioning. If your loved ones are currently experiencing insomnia or have difficulty getting to sleep each night, soaking in hot tubs can be a solution. This is due to the fact that hot water relaxes both your mind and body, promoting more restful sleep. As such, before getting to bed, your loved ones can have a simple soak in the hot tub for around 15 minutes to ease their bodies.
Lower High Blood Pressure
For loved ones living with high blood pressure, soaking in hot tubs can do many wonders for their health. According to a study done in 2016, immersing our bodies in hot water can have positive effects on vascular function and overall heart health. This theory is deduced by the fact that heat therapy helps reduce cardiovascular risk and mortality. Therefore, as a way to raise the heart rate levels and improve blood pressure, your loved ones can consider soaking in hot tubs to treat high blood pressure.
Burns Calories
Turns out you don’t exactly have to exercise in order to burn fats. Okay, soaking in hot tubs should never be used as an alternative to leading an active lifestyle, but a simple immersion in hot water can help to burn calories. Based on a small study, participants who soaked themselves in waist-deep hot water for around an hour burn the same amount of calories as those who take a walk for half an hour.
