How Hot Tubs Help with Cold Symptoms

When you think of hot tubs, what do you see? A person resting effortlessly in a private aquatic paradise? It’s true. Hot tubs do have a way of delivering bliss. But as you’re enjoying your next delightful soak, remember that hot tubs are often an excellent refuge when we look, sound, and feel like we’ve hit the bottom of the sickness barrel. 

Summer weather will leave us soon, giving way to chillier days, greyer skies, and falling leaves. With that comes a sneeze here. A cough there. That little tickle in your throat that turns into full-blown soreness the next day with clogged sinuses, headaches, and fatigue on top of it. While the staff at Wellis New England doesn’t have a cure for the common cold, we do know how your Wellis® hot tub can help put your cold symptoms in their proper place. 

Healthy Habits for Hot Tubs

In order to find relief from your cold in a hot tub, it’s important to follow the basic hot tub health protocol first.

• Consult your health care provider. Always talk to your doctor before starting a hot tub regimen. Based on your history, you may need to take special precautions to ensure you achieve the best results.
• Stay hydrated. This is critical no matter what physical wellness regimen you follow, because you need to be prepared to sweat. That means drinking plenty of hydrating fluids prior to your hot tub soak.
• Keep the water clean. Proper sanitation and chemical balance are always necessary for your hot tub environment, and it’s especially important when cold germs and viruses are in the mix. 
• Watch the temperature. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) maintains that you should limit your maximum hot tub temperature to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Once you’ve met all of these criteria, your best chances for relief are within reach. Keep these hot tub health benefits in mind the next time you need to kick a cold.

Boosted Immune System

Your immune system fights off virus reproduction by raising your body temperature. This is why colds and cases of flu so often come with a fever. Your hot tub helps your body reach that elevated, virus-combatting temperature in a more relaxed environment. 

Improved Sleep

One of the main reasons for owning a hot tub is its capacity to reduce stress in your body and mind. And when your body and mind are at ease, you sleep better. 

In a study published in the Journal of Anthropological Applied Human Science, participants who soaked in warm water about an hour prior to bedtime fell asleep faster, moved around less while sleeping, and entered deeper REM sleep states. Since sleep takes on even greater importance when you’re fighting a cold, these findings suggest that your hot tub can help that cause significantly.

Decongestion

Among the more troublesome symptoms of the common cold is congestion. Steam from your hot tub, however, can help by loosening the mucus that builds up in your nose and throat.

So, keep some tissues nearby during your soak. You’ll want to gently blow your nose one nostril at a time. This can help expel that gunk from your sinuses and accelerate your recovery.

Muscle Ache Relief

When your body works hard to rid itself of a cold, your muscles will feel that burn. It’s a good thing, then, that the water jets of a Wellis hot tub are specially designed to target achy muscles. Hydrotherapy reduces stiffness and inflammation in your muscles, thus relieving pain and fatigue.

Preparing for Cold Season

The best way to prevent getting a cold tomorrow is to give your immune system a head start today. Contact us at Wellis New England or visit our showroom. We’ll help you find a hot tub that may not only help you fight a cold (if it does come) but reduce your risk of catching one in the first place.