Why are hot tubs perfect for relieving stress?

Stress is a serious issue for many of us. Even mild stress can have many repercussions, from causing insomnia through to poor eating patterns and escalating anxiety. As a result, we are constantly seeking out new solutions to stress relief, many of which are complicated and expensive. If you’re looking for a way to lift stress in the comfort of your own home without repeated expense and travel then a hot tub could be perfect.

The impact of spa hydrotherapy via your hot tub

Hydrotherapy is renowned for its positive impact on the human body. It has been used for centuries to help reduce pain and swelling, improve strength – and to ease stress. Sinking into the warmth of a hot tub after a hard day at work provides instant stress relief. The temperature of the tub, as well as the weightlessness of the water takes the physical pressure off your limbs and helps you to start to relax. Hydrotherapy has also been found to have a positive impact on blood pressure, reducing high blood pressure and improving blood flow around the body.

Massage jets to relieve and relax

Stress in the body is often caused, or worsened, by aches and pains. You might be stiff from sitting at a desk all day or constantly aware of the pain from a muscular ache or injury. The massage jets in your hot tub can be positioned so that they apply direct relief to the affected area of the body to help soothe aches and relieve the burden of stress that pain can often cause. When this is combined with the warmth of the water the result is to enable the body to relax, the muscles to release and stress levels to significantly drop.

Stress and dopamine

When we’re stressed we’re often short of dopamine – this is a neurotransmitter that connects us to the brain's reward and pleasure centers and helps us to stay motivated. We need dopamine – it should be released by parasympathetic nervous system, in particular to help deal with the consequences of excessive stress on the body. But if you’re under a lot of pressure, or in physical pain, you may find that you don’t feel that motivated as your dopamine levels drop. Research has found that immersion in warm water, such as in a hot tub, helps to body to release dopamine, providing the response it needs to periods of stress.

Heart health and sleep

Insomnia and heart issues are two very common consequences of stress, both of which spending time in a hot tub can ease. Resting in hot water can help to alleviate cardiovascular anxiety, for example, bringing your heart rate down and improving circulation. Spending some time in a hot tub before you go to sleep can also improve sleep quality, helping your body to realise you’re winding down for the day and it’s time to calm down. These are just a few of the ways in which a hot tub can help to relieve stress. There are many other benefits too, from improvement in skin quality to overall better wellness. We can help you to enjoy all of this with a hot tub at home – contact the team today to find out more.