Did you know that relaxing in a hot tub can help ease your body into a deeper sleep? According to a recent poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), approximately 132 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. This number is on the rise as evidenced by the growing number of sleep disorder centers across the nation (approximately 3,000 in the U.S. today).
Sleep researchers believe that many cases of insomnia can be traced to hectic, stressful lifestyles lived by basically healthy people. The results of sleep deprivation are varied and can include battered nerves, grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and even erratic mood swings. Rather than reaching for over–the–counter sleeping aids, a simple solution to this dilemma may be relaxing in a hot tub before bedtime. Studies suggest that soaking in hot tub before bedtime can ease the transition into a deeper, more restful sleep. This may be due to a temperature shift, since the body’s core internal thermostat drops after leaving the water, which signals the body that it’s time to sleep. Or, the sleep improvement may be related to hot water’s relaxing properties – the buoyancy of water reduces body weight by approximately 90%, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, creating the sensation of weightlessness. The hot, swirling water leaves you feeling both mentally and emotionally relaxed.
In addition, hot tub–induced sleep is a natural remedy, unlike alternative sleeping aids such as prescription drugs, over–the–counter remedies and alcohol – all of which can make you feel groggy and have other adverse side effects.
