“The ultimate purpose of the heart as an organ is to pump blood in response to a physiological demand so its best measure of performance is volume of blood pumped per unit of time,” says Dr. Becker. “Immediately after a person is immersed, water begins to exert pressure on the body. 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.

And because water provides more resistance than air-making movement more challenging-even the most basic water workout can strengthen the heart and muscles better than a similar routine on land. Exercising in water also helps prevent overheating and does not impact joints. Take a look at Olympic Hot Tub Company’s simple exercise series for a mild hot tub workout that won’t strain joints.

Be sure to consult your physician if you have any condition that might be contraindicated for hot tub soaking.

SANUM PER AQUAM. Latin for Health through water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

How about accomplishing both at one time? Guaranteed way to eat less: drink an 8oz glass of water then soak in your Hot Spring Spa for 2o minutes before dinner. You will eat far less because your appetite diminishes after hot tub soaking.

And, soaking in the hot tub will simulate exercise as your circulation increases and your metabolism speeds up from sitting in the hot water. Not to mention the benefits from an 8oz glass of plain water!

What have you got to lose? I tried this during the holidays and didn’t gain any weight despite eating too much holiday food. Just imagine what you can do if you’re eating a normal diet or watching calories. Do try this at home! Share your story here on Hot Tub Bliss.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

January 3rd is Festival of Sleep Day

What to do on Festival of Sleep Day

What is there to do on a day where you have to sleep? You are supposed to sleep it’s as simple as that. But for many people getting to sleep and staying asleep is an exercise in futility. If you suffer from insomnia, read on.

Sleep and hot tubs. What’s the connection?

Did you know that relaxing in a hot tub can help ease your body into a deeper sleep that can mean the difference between staying asleep and waking at 3AM?

According to a recent poll by the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 132 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders more than one a night a week. And, this number is rising! The growing number of sleep disorder centers across the nation (approximately 3,000 in the U.S. today) is proof that more people are sleepless (not just in Seattle) and want to do something about it.

Sleep researchers believe that many cases of insomnia can be traced to our hectic, stressful lifestyles. Even though you may enjoy perfect health now, sleep deprivation can soon lead to a variety of ailments. The results of sleep deprivation can include battered nerves, grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and even erratic mood swings. Rather than reaching for over-the-counter sleeping aids, prescription drugs or giving in to insomnia,  the first thing to do is relax in your Hot Spring Spa before bedtime.

Consumer Reports survey reported that readers with mild sleep disorders listed a warm bath as one of the most popular remedies.

Studies suggest that immersion in hot water (such as a hot tub which has a constant temperature) 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.

Getting in my  Hot Spring Spa 2-3 hours before bed and “re-setting” my body temperature for sleep plus getting rid of the aches and pains of the day really helps my sleep. It’s nothing short of a miracle waking up feeling refreshed before the alarm goes off. The quality of my sleep is so much better-even priceless!

Come take a FREE test soak in one of our Olympic Hot Tub Company showrooms and test the better sleep theory for yourself. I know you’ll enjoy better sleep. Getting a new mattress is only 1/2 of the answer to better sleep. Your body holds the key to the other 1/2.  Soaking in a hot tub before going to sleep on a new mattress-wouldn’t that be a great thing and a wonderful way to celebrate a new you for the New Year??

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

If your senses left you last night and you did over-imbibe, read on for seven tips that will make you feel better faster.

The term hangover was originally a 19th century expression describing unfinished business—something left over from a meeting—or “survival.”  In 1904, the meaning “morning after-effect of drinking too much” first surfaced and has been used ever since as a catchall to describe that awful feeling.

The most commonly reported features of a hangover include  headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, and thirst typically after the intoxicating effects of the alcohol you consumed the night before wear off.  Add dysphoria- an unpleasant or uncomfortable mood, such as sadness, anxiety, irritability or restlessness. Let’s call it the opposite of euphoria. You  feel rotten.

It’s the American way to “do” something when we feel bad. No waiting for a temporary hangover to work itself out. In this case, you can act now to feel better.

The body rids itself of alcohol and its toxic byproducts in four ways, breathing, via the liver or kidneys and from sweating. Exercise speeds breathing, increases sweat and moves alcohol-laden blood through the liver and kidneys to be processed more quickly.

You probably don’t feel like going to the gym this morning (if you do, good for you!), but jumping in your hot tub will do almost as much for you. The heat increases your circulation which will speed blood more quickly through the liver and kidneys.  Did you know that  immediately after a person is immersed, water begins to exert pressure on the body?  Cardiac volume increases by nearly one-third when you’re immersed to the neck.

Here’s what to do to feel better now:

1. Rehydrate. Drink a glass of Gatorade or any sports drink that replaces electrolytes before getting in the hot tub. One reason you feel so bad now is because you’re dehydrated. Coffee is dehydrating and while you think that it is just what you need, it is not a helpful for a hangover.

2. Resist the temptation to take aspirin which is a blood thinner, just like alcohol and can intensify its effects!  The side effects of aspirin, Tylenol and ibuprofen can be magnified when alcohol is in your system, so it is best (even though it may be the first thing you reach for) to avoid them to kill the hangover pain.  See Tip 5 below for the best way to get rid of a hangover headache.

3. Get in the hot tub at between 102-104 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

4. Do deep breathing exercises in the tub.

5. For headache relief that’s simple and natural, try pinching your hand between your thumb and forefinger while in the hot tub. That part of the hand is a nerve junction and an acupressure point which is supposed to release tension in the head neck. The advice is to pinch quite hard for thirty seconds every five minutes until the headache subsides.

6. Take a cold shower after your hot tub soak which will really get your circulation moving and your heart rate up.

7. Drink water or Gatorade after you soak. More of the right kind of fluids (and “hair of the dog” is NOT the right kind of fluid) will flush the alcohol from your system and revive you.

Happy New Year and feel better soon.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

Dean Lewis spends his days lifting heavy objects, working in harsh weather conditions and pushes his body to the limits. For a construction worker like Dean, there is nothing better than coming home after a long day to relax.

However, Dean and other construction workers have a special remedy that takes their pains, aches and soreness out every time – soaking in a hot tub.

“After a hard day’s work, sitting in that hot tub is like a dream come true,” Dean said. “I feel no pain, and just feel relaxed.”

A fellow construction worker told Dean to purchase a new hot tub or spa for its hydrotherapy and pain relief benefits. According to Dean, it’s one of the best suggestions he’s ever been given.

“I thought my friend was just pulling my leg,” he said. “After I get out I feel so much better, especially after a long and vigorous day.”

Dean is just one of the 44% of buyers who purchase a hot tub for the hydrotherapy and pain relief benefits. Studies show that warm water exercises are a great way for people to build up strength and relax stiff joints and sore muscles. The water buoyancy helps reduce the pressure on joints, making it easier and less painful to perform the most simplest of tasks.

Alex Greficz, a retired construction worker, has been using a hot tub to relieve the aches and pains of aging for 26 years.

“We are actually on our fourth hot tub,” Alex said. “They have been really helpful for our health, especially after we work in the garden because our muscles get sore.”

Alex, 73, and his wife Karen, 62, said that taking a dip in the hot tub is a daily routine that’s as important as brushing their teeth.

“My wife uses it three times a day and I use it once a day. The longer you stay in it it’s very helpful and helps us get up in the morning,” Alex said.

Alex was a construction worker for years. He originally purchased a basic hot tub as a retirement gift to himself, and soon realized it did more than just take the aches and pains out.

“The hot tub has made us a better couple,” he explained. “We enjoy going in it, talking and listening to music. It’s fun for the family.”

Approximately 30% of hot tub owners, who were interviewed about how their hot tub has benefited their lifestyle, were construction workers. All say that the hot tub is something they can’t live without and is an essential tool in their jobs.

Thanks to Sylvia.  This guest post was written by Sylvia Rosen who is a residential accessories content specialist at BuyerZone.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

Your body is telling you to breathe  more..much more!

Try taking deeper breaths or forcefully blow all the air out of your lungs as you exhale to improve the oxygen flow to your brain and to your muscles. Doing that combined with the hot water will get your circulation flowing and send more oxygen to your brain. That’s always a good thing!

We had an embarrassing thing happen on Friday which made me research yawning. We were on our way to a dinner party, stuck in traffic on Aurora when I called the hostess to tell her we would be late. “Oh, but it’s NEXT Friday”, she said!

Se we turned around and headed home.  First thought: “Get in the hot tub!”  It had been a long day and with the wasted 30 minutes  driving, I was tired.  Once out in the hot tub, I couldn’t stop yawning. After 10 deep breaths  and a lot of stretching, I was able to “arrive in the present” and appreciate the wind in the trees, the light rain, the warm water surrounding me and put embarrassing social gaffes behind me!  It was heavenly.

So take a soak tonight.  If you find yourself yawning, breathe.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health Through Water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

According to the American Diabetes Association, over 15.7 million Americans are diabetic. Type II Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90% of cases. It is a disorder in which the body is not able to make enough insulin or to properly use insulin to turn the glucose in food into energy.

Having Type 2 Diabetes does not mean that it is the end of the world. With a simple guide to managing Type 2 Diabetes, you can still live a healthier and happier life.

Since November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, I thought it would be a good time to shine a spotlight on a serious disease that leads to potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and possible amputation.

Studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine have given new hope to the millions who suffer from diabetes. “Hot tub therapy” helped a group of Type 2 diabetics reduce their blood sugar levels and improve sleep patterns. (If I had Type 2 diabetes, I”d take those improvements for starters, wouldn’t you?) Hot tubbing was judged beneficial because the effects of partial immersion in a hot tub simulate the beneficial effects of exercise. Physical exercise is recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Soaking in a hot tub was found to be beneficial for Type 2 diabetes according to an independent study done by  Dr. Philip L. Hooper at the McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado. He studied a group of Type 2 diabetes patients for three weeks. The patients were required to soak in a hot tub for thirty minutes a day, six days a week, for the duration of the study. (I’m guessing that this was not a hardship!).

The results were astounding! The patients’ average blood sugar levels were reduced by an average of 13 percent. Hooper also explained that one of the subjects was able to reduce his daily dose of insulin by 18 percent after only ten days of the study.

In reference to these findings, Dr. Hooper and others state that hot tubs are especially helpful for patients who are unable to exercise, and recommends that hot tub treatments should be included as regular therapy for patients with diabetes.

Important Note. It is highly recommended that those with diabetes consult with their physicians prior to beginning hot tub treatments.

If anyone you know has diabetes, please share the good news about hot tubbing and help for Type 2 diabetes.  It’s an all natural, feel good therapy that can be of tremendous benefit at a low cost.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Here’s from Ross: Hello Alice: I posted on poolspaforum and one of your customers suggested I pose our question to you.  As I said in the post, personal opinions and experience are no substitute for professional medical advice, but we’d be interested to know if you have any insight. Thank you in advance… Ross & Joanne

You can read the entire post at poolspaforum.  In it he says, “Since we do not have a tub in our house (can you believe that?) we are considering investing in a spa (likely a Hot Spring Spa). (Great choice!) We met with her neurologist last week and his response to our question about using a spa was concern about subjecting her body to excessive heat, adding that not much research has been done to determine one way or the other if this is a benefit or detriment to TBI rehabilitation. My fiance recently tried a friend’s spa one afternoon and was extremely happy with how good it made her arm feel and the overall sense of relaxation in general.  In other words, SHE LOVED IT!”

I was very intrigued by Ross’ email. I knew nothing about hydrotherapy and TBI,  but I knew someone who could direct me to people who did. I emailed Laurie Batter who is the publicist and marketing consultant for the National Swimming Pool Foundation’s’ World Aquatic Health Conference every year. She posed the question to Dr. Bruce Becker, the foremost authority on hot water physiology in the U.S.  Dr. Becker was kind enough to reply to Ross:

Dear Ross,
I am a physician specialist in rehabilitation medicine (a psychiatrist) , and past medical director of the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan and  St. Luke’s Rehab Institute in Spokane WA were I currently reside. I am  presently the Director of the National Aquatics & Sports Medicine Institute, a research facility at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. I became  interested in the use of aquatics after working first with Olympians and then conventional rehab populations. It has been a passion ever since.

We have done a lot of work with hot tubs, and my previous work with TBI  patients has given me a significant reason to believe that warm water immersion may indeed have real benefit for the management of brain injury.

To start with, work recently done in our lab showed that during immersion  in warm water, the central nervous system undergoes a down-regulation of  stress responses. That response in work done elsewhere has shown  improvement in working memory, mood state, and general brain function.  In  some animal studies, immersion in warm water also correlates with release of a chemical called BDNF, which stands for  brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor. This is an amazing protein that the body produces and which in other animal studies has proven dramatically effective in aiding nerve and brain regrowth and restoration. It also is produced during exercise.

During my years at St. Luke’s, we routinely had the TBI patients come down to the therapy pool first thing in the AM, and found that those folks  showed improved speech function, less agitation, and improved sleep patterns. They required less medication through the day to control agitation. There is a lot of reason to believe that immersion improves  brain blood flow. That can’t be bad. The combination of improved blood flow and decreased stress and pain responses are potentially a really significant health benefit.

So I would support your thoughts. That said, I would also suggest that normal pool-based activity would be very useful for her spine fractures  and back pain. I don’t know where you live, but there may well be physical therapists who are knowledgeable in aquatic therapy in your area. I’d be happy to chase this for you if you need so.

Ross replied:

Hello Bruce,
Very interesting insight. It is reassuring to know that our purchase could indeed have a dual purpose…simple relaxation AND potential benefits to Joanne’s future recovery. Joanne is showing great potential for continued progress in her quest for better short-term memory and cognitive skills and it would seem that the  spa will also contribute to that rehab. As you noted, a spa in the AM might serve to be a great jump start to the brain…and another session at  night (in my opinion) could be a great way to minimize her muscle spasms  without the need for medication.
In closing, I must tell you how appreciative we are in your willingness to jump in and offer your perspective. It is very encouraging to read your email and I can’t wait for Joanne’s return home to begin with our new ideas. Thank you so much for sharing your time and advice.
Sincerely,
Ross & Joanne
North Sandwich, NH

Dr. Becker shared one additional insight in an emailed reply:

Ross,

There is a lot of misinformation about TBI recovery times. While the first months are pretty rapid generally, I was taught that what you see at 18 months is what you get. I still see patients who are told that. My experience showed that to be entirely inaccurate. I followed my TBI folks for many years, and saw continued improvement especially in those folks who were active and regular exercisers. So the trick is to keep moving, keep up the effort, and don’t lose hope. While the trudge forward is frustratingly slow at times, with periods when it seems like nothing is happening, then there are usually periods of pretty rapid improvement.

My very best wishes to you and Joanne.

Bruce

Read more on TBI on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website.  And on the Brainline.org website a group dedicated to helping people live with TBI. On their website they note that: “7 million people sustain a TBI each year in the United States-an astounding number. By the numbers, every American has more than a 1:300 chance of sustaining a traumatic brain injury each year. The three groups at highest risk for traumatic brain injury are children (0-4 year olds), teenagers (15-19 year olds), and adults (65 and older).  Estimates peg the number of sports-related traumatic brain injuries as high as 3.8 million per year. ”

If you know anyone with TBI, please share this information with them.  Send in your questions. And, stay tuned for the results of more research on the physiological effects of hot water immersion, i.e. hot tubbing from Dr. Becker at the National Aquatics and Sports Medicine Institute.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

Most hot tubbing is done outdoors at night. Being in the dark in the natural world adds a deeper level of relaxation than ordinary bath tub soaking. Hopefully you’ll have a Hot Spring Spa, the ONLY hot tub with no noise operation. Only with a Hot Spring will you experience complete silence even while the tub is filtering and heating. If you don’t own a hot tub yet, this is a critical point. All other hot tubs have either a 2- speed pump that rumbles and vibrates 24/7 or a 1-speed pump that comes on periodically shattering the quiet.

After you’ve let the jets have their way with your stiff neck and shoulders, turn them off.  Turn off the lights. Close your eyes. Let the utter stillness and hot water rejuvenate you. A deep sense of gratitude will be your only thought: “It can’t get any better than this.” And, for those of you who suffer from pain, the relaxation will lessen your suffering. I guarantee it!

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

“Spending more time in nature might have some surprising health benefits. In a series of studies, scientists found that when people swap their concrete confines for a few hours in more natural surroundings — forests, parks and other places with plenty of trees — they experience increased immune function.

Stress reduction is one factor. But scientists also chalk it up to phytoncides, the airborne chemicals that plants emit to protect them from rotting and insects and which also seem to benefit humans.

One study published in January included data on 280 healthy people in Japan, where visiting nature parks for therapeutic effect has become a popular practice called “Shinrin-yoku,” or “forest bathing.” On one day, some people were instructed to walk through a forest or wooded area for a few hours, while others walked through a city area. On the second day, they traded places. The scientists found that being among plants produced “lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure,” among other things.

A recent survey of our Olympic Hot Tub Company Hot Spring Spa owners echoed these findings.  All of the Hot Spring Spa owners surveyed reported immense pleasure, increased mental relaxation and peace of mind from soaking in their hot tubs outside. They all said that being in the presence of nature was the “frosting on the cake”, the “cherry on the sundae” that capped the experience and took it from the mundane to the sublime.

Being in nature was the reason they rarely missed a night’s soaking. It made their own backyards take a bigger place in their lives. Outside soaking opened up a new appreciation of the previously unseen natural world. People mentioned owls, squirrels, raccoons, the wind, stars, the trees and far vistas. So in addition to the great physiological benefits, the mental/spiritual benefits were the most deeply moving.

From my own experience I, too, have been profoundly moved by soaking in my roof top Hot Spring while viewing the stars and satellites (!), feeling the wind and the rain on my face and just letting go of all daily cares and worries.

Think you don’t have time to soak? Whatever you’re doing is not as important as being out in nature and what better way to experience nature than soaking in your hot tub?

RES EST SEVERAS VOLUPTAS-Latin for Pleasure is serious business.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.