After a hard day of work, its always nice to soak in a hot tub to eliminate stress and relax your tired, aching body. But before you dip into the hot water, check it first. Make sure your hot tub is set at the right temperature. The wrong temperature can be hazardous.
This hot tub health warning comes from the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) which explains that high water temperatures can endanger your health. For this reason, it recommends 104 degrees Fahrenheit as the maximum temperature of a hot tub.
Many experts agree that higher temperatures can health ailing bodies. Hot water treatments, including baths, are actually used all over the world. For example, those in Japan bathe in temperatures that reach as much as 115 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in the U.S. and other countries where hot tub temperatures are regulated, this is not the case. This is because these extremely high temperatures are often associated with health problems such as heat stroke.
The above recommendation has prompted many hot tub manufacturers to install controls on their products that don’t allow the temperature to go beyond the recommended level. The CPSC revealed that water temperatures that exceed the normal body temperature can make people drowsy. This, in turn, may lead to unconsciousness and even result in drowning.
If you choose to drink alcoholic beverages during or before your hot tub dip, you can put yourself at greater risk of such drowsiness and drowning. In fact, this year so far more than 10 deaths have been reported in hot tubs, three of which involved the use of alcohol in a tub that had a temperature of more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
For those who are pregnant, extremely hot temperatures should also be avoided since they can cause damage to the fetus. Those with heart problems and hypertension are also at risk. Since heat raises the blood pressure, individuals can be at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes, often resulting in death. Because obesity is often linked with high blood pressure, overweight individuals should also avoid excessive hot tub temperatures.
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