Relaxing in a hot tub is one of the best ideas you can come up with when it comes to relaxing in your pastime, right? Well, what if we were to tell you that there are plenty of health risks linked to this pleasant activity? Learn more on the matter of hot tub use safety concerns and health risks here to know what you must beware of in order to pleasantly enjoy using it.

When you think about spending your pastime in the most relaxing manner possible, one of the first thoughts that pop to mind is sitting in a hot tub, relaxing while the warm water soothes your eventual muscle pains and helps you completely unwind and relax. There are numerous benefits to using a hot tub in addition to relaxation and muscle soreness relief, benefits that include lowering blood pressure, arthritis relief, a better night’s sleep, and more. Alas, there are serious downsides, especially when it is used improperly or in an abusive manner, existing numerous health risks and safety concerns related to this activity.

Common health risks

1. Legionnaires’ disease: It is a form of pneumonia that you can contact by inhaling bacteria that lingers in the steam of a contaminated tub. Its common symptoms show after 1-2 days of contacting it, and they include shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, and coughing.
2. Cryptosporidiosis: If the water isn’t cleaned properly, this water illness can appear. it is a diarrheal disease that is caused by the Crypto parasite, a parasite that lives in the intestine of infected humans that that is passed in the stool of an infected person.
3. Pseudomonas Dermatitis: Commonly known as hot tub rash, it is an infection which causes pus filled blisters and red rashes to appear on the body. What causes it is a germ and it usually takes a few days for the health issue to emerge. It usually goes away on its own, but if you see it persists, go to a dermatologist immediately as special treatment might be needed. To avoid getting the rash, avoid using public tubs, and if you own one yourself, clean it properly on a regular basis.
4. Skin irritations: Not cleaning it regularly causes bodily fluids to collect in the water, fluids that include sweat, urine, and feces. When mixed with the chlorine in the water, these fluids result in the appearance of chloramines, which are highly irritating not only for the skin, but for our eyes as well.

Safety concerns

Alcohol use

It might look cool to see scenes in movies where people party in hot tubs, drinking beer or champagne and sharing a laugh, but in reality, doing so can lead to serious trouble. Basically, you should never mix alcohol with sitting in the hot tub nor should you enter the hot water when you are buzzed or downright drunk as drowsiness is sure to ensue almost instantly. This isn’t the worst case scenario, however, as the risk of unconsciousness and drowning exponentially increase if you mix the two together.

Length and temperature

The length of a safe relaxation session in the hot, bubbly water depends, above anything else, on the age of the person using it:

• Children should sit 5 to 10 minutes inside it;
• Healthy adults can safely sit in it for up to 60 minutes;
• Those who suffer from heart conditions should limit their sessions to 15-20 minutes;
• The elderly shouldn’t sit inside more than 20-30 minutes.

In what concerns water temperature, regardless of how resilient you think you are, you should never soak in water that is hotter than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature that exceeds this limit increases the chances for drowsiness to appear. There’s the risk of developing hyperthermia as well, an issue you shouldn’t play around with.

Children

Under specific circumstances and when done the right way, children can enjoy a good dip in the tub as well. However, you should never let them use it unsupervised, and make sure that the temperature of the water is slightly below their core body temperature as well. There is the concern of time spent inside it as well, in the case of children 10 minutes sufficing in order to ensure a safe experience will be enjoyed.

Pregnant women

Due to the changes constantly occurring in their bodies, pregnant women are more predisposed to danger when using the hot tub. Hyperthermia settles a lot faster as their bodies tend to heat up at a more rapid pace than normally, which could lead to birth defects. They are a lot more susceptible to contacting infections if the water isn’t cleaned to perfection. Even though you might find it relaxing to soak your hurting body in the hot water to soothe your muscle pains, if you are pregnant, we recommend you delay gratification until the child arrives.

Safety tips to keep in mind

• Install a rubber mat or an antiskid thread to ensure there won’t be the risk of slipping when people enter it.
• If a person using it looks lethargic, get them out immediately and make sure hyperthermia isn’t causing this deprecated state of health.
• If it is installed outdoors, never use it during rainstorms or lightning.
• No matter how much you trust your child, don’t let the small one use it without close supervision or the risk of drowning might ensue.
• Don’t take pills or medications before entering the hot water as you might start feeling drowsy.
• If the water has a cloudy appearance, don’t enter the tub until you fix this issue.
• When you have guests over and they want to relax in the warm water, first have them take a soapy shower.
• When it’s not in use, make sure that the tub is covered and latched to prevent children and pets from entering it.
• Make sure that there are no electric devices and appliances in its proximity. If it is imperious to place a certain appliance or device next to it, at least make sure it runs on batteries.