People who suffer from sleeping problems may turn to pharmaceuticals to help them get a decent night’s rest. Medicinal sleeping aids might work for some, but others fear addiction or find that they don’t provide a natural feeling sleep. For these reasons many people seek out natural alternatives that allow them to fall asleep easier. Those of us in the hot tub industry often hear the question, “Can hot tubs make you tired?” Although there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that they do, more scientists are beginning to study the soporific effects that soaking in hot water can have. In this article we’ll go over what we know about the ability of a hot tub to help with sleeping patterns.
The Effects Of Body Temperature
It appears that changes in the internal core body temperature have something to do with sleep. There’s evidence that a reduction in body temperature and the ability to sleep are closely associated. Scientific studies have found that sleep coincides with a reduction in internal core body temperature. It’s postulated that when the internal body temperature begins to fall the mechanisms that cause sleep to occur are activated. During the course of the day the body’s temperature rises. As night falls, so does the body’s core temperature which sends signals to the brain that causes it to feel drowsy. Soaking in a hot tub can simulate and heighten this effect to help bring on sleep. When you get in the hot tub your internal temperature rises and when you get out it falls. This imitation of daily body temperature rhythms can lead to drowsiness and increase the likelihood of falling asleep. If you regularly have trouble falling asleep you might consider soaking in a hot tub an hour or two before going to bed to see if modifying your body’s thermoregulation processes can help you fall asleep.
The Effects Of Relaxation
Spending time in a hot tub is nothing if not relaxing. And without the ability to relax it’s very likely you’ll have a hard time falling asleep. The warm and massaging waters can create both physical and mental relaxation. Soaking in the hot tub can relieve muscle tension, slow breathing rates and combat physical pain. It can also help alleviate mental stress, slow down the thought processes and spur the manufacture of relaxation inducing hormones. In order to prepare yourself for a good night’s rest, your body and brain need to relax. And a hot tub can be an ideal tool to help this happen.
The Effects Of A Regular Sleep Routine
Following a regular routine before you go to bed can help prepare your body and mind for sleep. If you go through the same actions before bedtime, your body and brain begin to interpret those actions as signals to slow down, feel drowsy and anticipate sleep. Soaking in a hot tub can become a pleasurable part of your end-of-day, wind down routine. It has the added effect of altering your core body temperature in a way that’s conducive to falling asleep.
Blood Flow
The heat and massage experienced in a hot tub helps improve your blood flow. Effective blood circulation reduces stress factors that could affect sleeping patterns. When circulation is functioning properly, blood vessels dilate, blood pressure falls and the heart doesn’t have to work as hard. When blood flow is impaired the opposite occurs and your body experiences stress. This can lead to health issues, including problems with sleep. Regularly spending time in a hot tub can lead to improved blood flow and lead to an easier time falling asleep.
To learn more about how a hot tub can help you sleep, download a free buyer’s guide below today, or visit us at our hot tub store.