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How long can you stay in a hot tub?

woman relaxing in a hot tub

 

They say that time goes quickly when you’re having fun, so it makes sense that time can fly once you’ve immersed yourself in the warm depths of your outdoor hot tub or swim spa. Although you may be settling into a good book, or just sitting back and watching the world go by when you’re in the hot tub, you may not want to ignore the time completely.

If you want to make the most of your time in the hot tub; finding the perfect balance between enjoying all the hydrotherapy benefits and giving yourself enough time to unwind after a stressful day, you may want to think about how long you should spend in the hot tub. This amount of time will be different for every person but, to decide for yourself, keep on reading.

 

woman relaxing in a hot tub

How long is safe to stay in a hot tub?

It’s normally suggested that an adult spends between 15 and 30 minutes in their hot tub, but it will largely depend on how hot you like to keep your water.

If you prefer to keep the temperature of your tub nice and hot – around 40°C – you shouldn’t be in there for any longer than 15 minutes as you can overheat, get dehydrated, and start feeling faint. If you keep it at a more comfortable 35°C, you can stay in there for anywhere up to 30 minutes at a time.

Ultimately, you should just pay attention to how you feel and use that as a guideline for how long to stay submerged in the hot tub. If you feel happy and comfortable, stay in longer, if you start getting hot and bothered, it’s time to get out – we just wouldn’t recommend staying in there for any longer than an hour at a time.

 

Factors to consider before jumping in the hot tub

If you’re worried about the potential side effects of long periods in a hot tub, you don’t need to start panicking straight away. Here are some of the factors that can help you decide how long is safe to relax in your tub.

 

Temperature

Women who are pregnant should also be careful when it comes to spending time in a swim spa or hot tub, particularly if they like to set the temperature high.

Although the heat of the hot tub could be getting rid of some of the aches and pains you’re feeling, you shouldn’t be spending too much time in hot tubs (experts suggest a maximum of 10 minutes at a time) and you should be wary about turning the temperature up too high.

Age

Most healthy adults are able to spend as much time as they’d like in a hot tub, as long as they don’t exceed the recommended hour of immersion. But, if you’re over 65 or a child, you’re in an age group that needs to be a bit more careful.

Children under 12 in particular do not sweat like adults do which can make it hard for them to regulate their own temperature when in a swim spa. For this reason, they should avoid the tub altogether – unless you’re happy with turning the temperature all the way down.

Regardless of your age, you should listen to your body when sitting in the hot tub. If you’re starting to feel faint or overheating, it’s probably time to hydrate and rest before getting back in.

 

Health

If you have any medical conditions, it’s normally best to consult with your doctor before getting into a hot tub, especially if you have conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, circulatory issues, diabetes, or take medication that makes you drowsy.

As much as you can read about best practices for using hot tubs, it’s the advice from your doctor that you should follow. Then, once you’re sat back in your hot tub, you should monitor how you feel frequently and jump out as soon as you start feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. 

 

Hydration

Finally, the last important factor you should consider before deciding how long to stay in your hot tub for is how hydrated you are.

When you’re relaxing in hot water temperatures, you’re going to be sweating a lot and, as you lose all of this liquid from your body you can end up getting dehydrated very quickly. To avoid making yourself ill, take a cool drink with you that you can sip on while you relax – the best thing to have is water, but if you’d prefer something else just remember to stay away from drinking alcohol as this can speed up the effects of dehydration.

 

It’s time to enjoy your hot tub

If you pay attention to all the factors we mentioned above and monitor how you feel when you’re sitting in your hot tub, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about feeling ill after spending too long in the water.

After all, hot tubs are meant to be enjoyed, so get yourself a drink, bring a friend, and start enjoying your hot tub right now!

 

*Medical Advice Disclaimer

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