Sleep disorders affect 40% of adult Canadians! Some suffer from chronic disorders while others experience occasional problems sleeping. Stressful lives, over-exertion, over-exercising, money problems and work pressure all contribute to the problem. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified all of these! Do you experience sleep troubles, constantly or intermittently? Would you like to solve your difficulties without the need for doctors and/or drugs? A hot tub may hold the answer. 

How does a hot tub help you sleep better?

A hot tub is a form of hydrotherapy, a complementary treatment that uses water’s thermal and mechanical effects to relieve discomfort and promote physical and mental well-being. The following are some of the ways that the waters of a hot tub can improve your sleep.

• Body temperature manipulation: Sleep is preceded by a drop in body temperature. A 20 to 30-minute soak in a hot tub approximately 1 ½ hours before bedtime can trigger this cooling process. The hot water elevates the body’s temperature above its normal 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. After exiting the spa, your body slowly cools telling your system it’s time for sleep enabling you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. A soak in your hot tub helps you maintain a healthy sleep cycle and aids with issues like insomnia and racing thoughts by encouraging relaxation and drowsiness.
• Reduced stress: Just a few minutes in a hot tub can lower your blood pressure and reduce your heart rate, two body functions that, when elevated, contribute to tension, stress and anxiety. The heat of the water diverts blood from the head to the body, lowering brain activity and settling the mind. Hot water and a jet massage can help the body produce feel-good endorphins and dopamine assisting in reducing tension and calming the mind. Regular hot tub use helps regulate the nervous system, increasing the body’s relaxation response and decreasing the stress response.
• Diminished pain: Body pain makes getting a good night’s sleep difficult. The buoyancy of the water in a hot tub reduces the force of gravity on joints and relieves pressure across the entire body. The heat stimulates the body’s production of endorphins (natural pain-killing hormones), dilates blood vessels increasing blood flow and eases pain and inflammation. The massage jets relieve tension and stiffness in muscles and tendons. The better you feel, the easier it is to fall asleep.
• A thermal workout:  Soaking in hot water enlarges the arteries, increases blood flow and brings more oxygen to the brain. This response resembles the effects of physical exercise. If you live a sedentary life, a short soak in a hot tub before bed can make you feel tired and help you fall asleep faster.
• Removal of toxins: Hot water makes the body sweat causing skin pores to enlarge and release toxins gathered through the day. This includes allergens that can wake you in the night.
• Reduced congestion: Congestion can disrupt sleep. A short dip in a hot tub before bed allows steam to permeate your lungs and nasal passages, loosens mucus and relieves congestion.

How long should you soak? 

Soak in a hot tub for 20 to 30 minutes 1 ½ to 2 hours before bedtime. Longer is fine but any less than 20 minutes and you won’t experience the full benefits offered by the hot water therapy.

Looking for a natural way to reduce stress and help you sleep better at night? Consider soaking in a hot tub an hour or two before bedtime. The more consistently you follow this routine, the more effective it will be at restoring quality sleep. 

Having trouble sleeping? Willing to try hydrotherapy through the use of a hot tub? Need help making a hot tub purchase during the pandemic? The experts at RnR Hot Tubs and Spas are here to help. With over 200 hot tubs available for sale from brands like American Whirlpool and Vita Spa, we’re the spa shop for you. Owned by service professionals with over 30 years of experience, we help make your hot tub purchase exceptional. Please call 403-203-0860 to set up an appointment.