International Hot Tub Association – Hot Tub Association, Hot Tub Industry, Hot Tub Information, IHTA

A study conducted by the Journal of Physiological Anthropological Applied Human Science; studied the effects of daily bathing and hot footbath in winter on the sleep behavior of nine healthy female volunteers. The results suggest that both daily bathing and hot footbath before sleeping facilitates earlier sleep onset.

The National Sleep Foundation suggests soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music to aid in sleep.

The purpose of this Mayo Clinic study was to determine the body temperature and cardiovascular responses to hot tub immersion in a group of heart patients and compare these responses to those during aerobic exercise. Patients with stable coronary artery disease who can exercise without difficulty are unlikely to experience problems while using a hot tub for 15 minutes

Canadian Medical Association Journal concludes that immersion in a hot tub for 10 minutes lowers blood pressure in subjects with treated hypertension, but no more than in normotensive control subjects. Spending 10 minutes in a hot tub should be safe for most treated hypertensive patients.

The American Heart Journal concludes that a home-based thermal hydrotherapy treatment program improves quality of life, heart-failure-related symptoms and heart rate response to exercise in patients with mild chronic heart failure.

The study concludes that mild-moderate exercise focused on joint protection will increase physical function, flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, and mobility for those who practice them

Strengthening, endurance, and mobility exercises in water (temperature range, 83°– 89°F) decreases joint loading and possible increase in circulation aids in the relief of chronic pain and functional difficulties.

The Mayo Clinc states that relaxing in a spa may actually be less stressful to for your heart then working out on an exercise bike. Passive heating, they found, was less stressful to the body than light exercise. “If you’re a heart-disease patient and your physician has recommended exercise.” he concluded. “we feel you can get in the hot tub and likely not have any problems.”