Is there a danger of hypertension and hot tubs? When properly installed, a finely crafted hot tub can be the jewel of a home pool area. That said, we have written about hot tub dangers before to highlight some of the potential dangers associated with them. Today though, we’re not just focusing on slipping and falling. There is a big question about whether hypertension and hot tubs mix. Is there a danger there? Read on to learn more.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious problem for many people, regardless of age.
For all of us, our blood pressure changes throughout the day based on the activities we are performing. For instance, it will be lower while we are sleeping or resting. Conversely, it will be higher during times of great stress.
According to the CDC, having blood pressure that measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure, or hypertension. This carries a greater risk of heart attacks, heart disease and even strokes. In truth, hypertension is quite dangerous by itself.
Hypertension and Hot Tubs
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: is there a significant danger when combining hypertension and hot tubs? For many people, the answer is mostly “no.” Of course, it is still always important to consult a doctor. Every person’s body is completely different. It is quite easy to not realize that hot water can react poorly with a certain medications.
For this reason, we always advise our readers to seek out personalized medical care. A doctor or medical professional will know your medical history and exactly what medications you have been prescribed.
Safety First
Here are some precautions to consider before stepping into a hot tub:
- As mentioned above, always listen to your doctor. For example, if you have been advised to avoid moderate exercise, a hot tub or sauna could be a potential risk. The sheer heat of the water could produce physical effects similar to certain exercises.
- Make sure you don’t overstay your time in the hot tub. In this case, moderation is definitely a key to success. 10 to 15 minute sessions tend to be the sweet spot.
- Drinking and swimming never mix, but this situation could be even worse in a hot tub. Alcohol can already make a person drowsy, but when combined with the intense heat of a Jacuzzi, this could be overwhelming. Eliminate this drowning danger risk by keeping the booze away from the hot tub.
- Definitely stay away from the hot tub if you are experiencing higher than usual blood pressure. As a further precaution, try to limit wild swings in temperature. For example, this could include the act of repeatedly getting in and out of the hot tub. This can play havoc with your blood pressure.
- The buddy system helps people of all ages, plus it is more fun! Bring a friend into the hot tub with you. This way, both of you can look out for each other in case of trouble.
Hypertension and Hot Tubs Probably Mix
In the end, we’ve advised you to speak with a doctor before stepping into a hot tub. For seniors, that advice is true for almost any situation when it comes to the water. Again, we cannot stress enough how helpful a medical professional’s advice can be to a patient. It can provide peace of mind where everything else is simply guesswork.
That said, it does seem like hypertension and hot tubs should be a relatively safe mix for most people. Even the National Institutes of Health has some encouraging words about people with high blood pressure stepping into the hot tub:
“Immersion in a hot tub for 10 minutes lowers blood pressure in subjects with treated hypertension, but no more than in normotensive control subjects. Spending 10 minutes in a hot tub should be safe for most treated hypertensive patients.”
