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To get the most satisfaction out of your spa, the water must look clear, enticing and be free of bacteria. Three important factors contributing to this are filtration, water balance and disinfection. The jets in a spa create a mild message that relieves stress and tension and improves overall circulation. Many aches and pains disappear with the heat and buoyancy of the water. NOTE: The following is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and and it is important that you consult your physician or health care professional. The use of heat is recommended for many people with arthritis and related conditions, but not all. Your doctor can help you determine if it is appropriate for you. Benefits of heat can include:
For most people, soaking time should not exceed 10 to 15 minutes at temperatures between 98 and 104¡ F. Children and elderly people are more prone to become overheated and may need to soak for less time. Help for your diabetes may soon come from your hot tub, but prescription coverage is still a ways off. A New England Journal of Medicine study suggests that soaking in a hot tub for 30 minutes a day for a three-week period can reduce blood sugar levels by 13 percent. Although the study was limited to only eight volunteers, one had to reduce his insulin by 18 percent to avoid low blood sugars. The study's author, Dr. Philip Hooper of McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado, tried hot tub therapy to see if it would mimic the effects of exercise. He felt it might be a useful tool for those who are unable to exercise. His volunteers, aged 43 to 68 and having diabetes between three and 14 years, reported improved sleep and an improved sense of well-being. But tub therapy is not risk free. Volunteers had to be helped from the tub when the water temperature exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degree Celsius ) due to dizziness when they tried to stand after they stepped out of the tub. Unfortunately, no weight loss was seen amongst the hottubbers. (http://www.diabetesnet.com/news/news091999.html) According to the American Heart Association, hot tubs and saunas pose no risk to healthy individuals - if not misused. Individuals with high blood pressure (hypertension) who have no symptoms should tolerate saunas well. The vasodilation (relaxing of the blood vessels) associated with the heat is roughly the same as a brisk walk. Any active symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath that would cause a person to avoid moderate exercise would also be a reason to avoid a hot tub or sauna. Moving back and forth between cold water baths and saunas or hot tubs can raise blood pressure. People with high blood pressure should avoid doing this. (http://www.americanheart.org/Heart_and_Stroke_A_Z_Guide/hbphot.html) Alcohol and hot tubs or saunas are not a good combination and shouldn't be mixed. Some physicians and midwives will advise women to completely eliminate the use of saunas and hot tubs during pregnancy. During pregnancy, both the mother's body and the fetus' body need to stay within a moderate temperature range in order to be healthy. The fetus' temperature regulation depends on the mother's body temperature, with the fetus being usually one-half to one degree warmer than the mother. It is important that a pregnant woman not be exposed to excessive temperatures, or a combination of excessive heat and humidity. This is especially true during the first three months of pregnancy, when the baby's major organs are forming. Here are a few guidelines about water and sauna temperatures that may be helpful to you: * You should not use a hot tub for more than 15 minutes at a water temperature of 102.2 oF (39 oC). * You should not use a hot tub for more than 10 minutes at a water temperature of 105.8 oF (41 oC). * Water temperature for bathing should not be more than 102 oF (39 oC) for more than 15 minutes. * You should not use a sauna for more than five minutes at a room temperature of 178.5 oF (81.4 oC). Check the temperature before use. (http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/womens/pg09.htm)
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