Are Jacuzzies Bad For You?
Also Known As: hot tub
Short answer
As with many things, hot tubs can be either good or bad for you. It all depends on the hot tub, your health, and how long you plan to soak. Let's dig into the facts.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
A hot tub can be either a nice place to relax and soak up some health benefits - or it can be a cesspool of danger. There are two primary dangers of using a hot tub - public use and prolonged use. In the case of using a public hot tub, there is the danger of not only germs from other people contaminating the water and seats (for example, the virus that causes genital herpes can thrive on some of the plastic seats for hours), but also of bacteria that may be found in the public water supply. These bacteria, such as Nontuberculous mycobacteria, Pseudomonas, and Legionella can get caught up in the mist produced by turning on the jets, causing inhalation and leading to problems such as fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss (N. mycobacteria), infections of the eye, ears, and skin (Pseudomonas), and Legionnaire's disease (Legionella).
Prolonged use of a hot tub can bring about dehydration and deplete the body's electrolyte levels. Also, as the body is unable to cool itself while immersed in hot water, sitting in a hot tub for a long period of time can overtax the heart. It is for this reason that people with heart conditions are recommended to stay out of the hot tub or strictly limit their time in one.
Another possible danger of using a hot tub is the disinfectants - chlorine and/or bromine. Increased levels of either of these chemicals can lead to respiratory problems.
Assuming a 10-30 minute soak in a properly cleaned, germ-free hot tub with normal levels of chlorine/bromine, there are several benefits to be had by most people. One benefit is that a hot tub induces a decrease in blood pressure, which can be beneficial to the heart, provided you aren't in the tub so long that your body begins to become overheated (like talked about above). Yet another benefit of the hot water is that it can act as a temporary pain reliever. In addition to the sedating effects of the hot water, the jet streams act as a massage. Furthermore, studies have shown hot tubs to be beneficial to people with diabetes and arthritis.
Possible short-term side effects
- bacterial/viral infection
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deplete electrolyte levels
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overtax the heart
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dehydration
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- helps relieve pain
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decreases blood pressure
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induces muscle relaxation
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decrease stress
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may be beneficial for those with diabetes
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Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-05-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-05-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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