Soaking in a hot tub is of great benefit to your heart and is a timely topic for February which is American Heart Month.  Are you wearing red February 3rd in honor of fighting heart disease in women?  Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women?  3 times as many deaths result from heart disease than all cancers combined.  Here’s a roundup of  hot tub and heart articles that have been the most read on Hot Tub Bliss:

1. HOT TUB SOAKING AIDS HEART HEALTH from January 2011.  Startling news for most readers: Cardiac volume increases by nearly one-third with immersion to the neck.” Simply put, this means your heart gets a cardiovascular workout just from sitting in a hot tub; this does not occur being sedentary when dry.

2. HOT TUBS ARE SAFE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.  This is the good news from this medical study from January 2010.

3. HOT TUB SOAKING LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE from November 2008.   Blood warmed in the vessels at your skin’s surface is pumped from there back into your body where it begins to heat your organs and deep muscle tissue where the same healthy vessel dilation occurs leaving the muscles more relaxed. The longer your spend immersed in hot water, the more times the warm, healing blood can cycle through your body. Studies have shown that in a hot tub maintained at 104 degrees the core body temperature can rise to 102 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 20 minutes.

This means a healthy increase in heart rate with a decrease in blood pressure as the body cools that reduces strain on other vital organs. It’s no wonder that at the reputable Mayo Clinic, hot water hydrotherapy is used to improve cardio-health. 

4. HOT TUB FOR STRESS RELIEF! NEWS UPDATE ON A SCIENTIFIC STUDY CONDUCTED AT WSU from May 2010. 

The sympathetic nervous system (which escalates under stress) and the parasympathetic nervous system (which promotes calm) — fall into balance when the body is immersed in warm water, according to the study conducted by Dr. Bruce Becker at Washington State University, Pullman.

That balanced state has been associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, improved memory, enhanced cognitive processes and increased concentration. “The autonomic nervous system responds to warm water immersion the same way it responds to meditation or a number of other relaxed states,” Becker says.  Stress reduction is a must for a healthy heart.

5. SOAK IN YOUR BACKYARD HOT TUB FOR BETTER HEALTH– EXPOSURE TO NATURE BOOSTS IMMUNITY from October 2010.
Scientists found that being among plants outdoors produced “lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure,” among other benefits.

Heart health is vital to your overall health.  Keep your heart healthy by watching your diet, not smoking, doing cardiovascular workouts and, of course, hot tubbing.  Do see your doctor, first, if you have any concerns about using the hot tub and your health.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

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