Fight the Common Cold in your Hot Tub

Generally, you know the exact day when you come down with that dreaded common cold. It usually starts with a scratchy, itchy throat, chills, runny nose, or that generalized feeling of discomfort. Often you resort to over the counter drugs that can help to relieve symptoms, or your favorite home remedies, such as gargling warm salt water or  chicken soup.

Did you know you can fight the common cold just by sitting in your hot tub? It’s true! The moment you feel something coming on, jump into your hot tub several times and day and you will be amazed. But how can this be?

Creates a False Fever
The common cold is most often caused by a virus. A virus is killed either by “heat” or by “running it’s course”. This is why antibiotics don’t work on a viral condition. Have you ever wondered why you sometimes get a “fever” when you are ill? Experts say a fever is actually a mechanism of the body to produce heat to kill the virus. This is why sitting in your hot tub can help with your cold. When you soak in a hot tub for 30 minutes, your body temperature will rise slightly and this will help to kill the virus. 

Relieves Body Aches
When you are not feeling well, your body tends to ache all over.  You notice back pains that you didn’t have before. You may get leg cramps, or your muscles could ache. Heat therapy does wonders for relief from the aches and pains associated with the common cold.

Clears the Nasal Passage
The steam that is created by the hot water in your spa helps to loosen mucus and relieve congestion from your nose and chest.   

Acts as a Natural Sleep Aid
Often it’s hard to get good sleep when you have a cold.  Trying to fall asleep when your body is aching, you can’t breathe, you’re continuously coughing, and your throat is on fire, trying to fall asleep is virtually impossible. A great way to ensure that you will get plenty of rest when suffering from the common cold is to get soak in your hot tub.  Warm water raises your body temperature, which in turn dilates the blood vessels, improving circulation. Oxygen rich blood flows to the organs and extremities helping  every part of your body feel better because cell growth proceeds more efficiently.

Improved circulation helps you sleep because it fuels “the relaxation response.” With cells and organs properly nourished with oxygen and nutrients and the heart beating in a steady, reliable way, your breathing rate will slow, relaxing you naturally and the production of stress hormones decreases, and muscles relax.

It is always a good idea to only use your hot tub when the water is clean and the chemistry is correct, but it is especially true when you are sick and your immune system is low. Remember to keep hydrated when you are ill, and drink lots of water.  Hot tubs can dehydrate the body because you are sweating in the tub. Drinking plenty of water before, during and after soak will help to keep you hydrated.

Turning the heat up on your spa to it’s maxinum (typically 104 degrees) can deliver the best results from the common cold.  We do not recommend soaking in your hot tub when you are running a fever.  Remember to consult your doctor if your cold symptoms persist, or if you start to feel worse.