You may have heard that it’s not recommended to use a hot tub if you’re somebody who experiences high blood pressure. This is something that has been regularly discussed in the hot tub and spa industry over recent years.

So what is the relationship between hot tubs and high blood pressure? In this Platinum Spas article, we discuss whether hot tubs help people with high blood pressure, the precautionary steps to take if you do suffer from high blood pressure and more. Read on to find out!

Can I use a hot tub with high blood pressure?

You can use a hot tub if you have high blood pressure, just as long as it’s not extremely high. Ensure you consult with your doctor beforehand, though, as well as taking extra precautions such as moving from high to low temperatures slowly, not drinking any alcohol and enjoying your hot tub with another person.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, otherwise referred to as “hypertension”, is when the body’s blood vessels have an unusually high-pressure level. It can be a serious matter if it’s not dealt with or treated properly.

What are the risks of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can lead to a number of issues over time. Coronary problems are the biggest risk, with heart attacks, heart failure, and heart disease all more common among people living with hypertension. Other problems include strokes, kidney disease, and vascular dementia. It’s important to inform your doctor if you’re concerned about any symptoms or risks of high blood pressure so that you can receive the necessary support.

Can hot tubs help with high blood pressure?

Hot tubs have a variety of health benefits for anyone who uses them frequently, but the consensus on whether they help hypertension is less clear. According to some studies, it’s possible that taking frequent soaks in hot tubs can lower blood pressure and help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Adolph Hutter, professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, says that “The high temperatures in a warm tub or sauna cause your blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure”.

However, the general guidance here is that if you’re somebody who has experienced heart problems or high blood pressure, you should take a precautionary approach to taking soaks. Read on to learn some of the steps you can take to avoid health problems when using a hot tub with high blood pressure in the future.

Precautions when using a hot tub with high blood pressure

You can use a hot tub with high blood pressure so long as your session is short, but there are a range of precautions you can take to be safe, including:

  • Speaking with your doctor
  • Using a hot tub for a shorter period of time
  • Enjoying your hot tub with a friend or family member
  • Not using a hot tub if you experience extremely high blood pressure
  • Not consuming any alcohol before or during time in a hot tub
  • Avoid moving between really hot and cold environments quickly

Speak with your doctor

When you’re considering using a hot tub and high blood pressure is a concern, talking to your doctor is by far the most important step in figuring out whether hydrotherapy is for you. If you’ve been advised to avoid moderate exercise by a doctor in the past, it’s most definitely worth speaking with them prior to your hot tub use.

This is because the effects of sitting in a hot tub could have a similar effect to performing moderate exercise. While those of us who don’t have high blood pressure can benefit from using a hot tub after exercise, it’s important not to put too much stress on your body if you have a history of hypertension. Having a conversation with your doctor will help you clarify how high your blood pressure is, and whether you sit in the ‘Extremely High Blood Pressure’ category.

Use your hot tub for a shorter period of time

Hot tubs and high blood pressure don’t go well together if you choose to have an extremely long soak in a hot tub that produces high temperatures. Because of this, we recommend sticking to a total time of anywhere between 10–15 minutes in your hot tub.

In addition, choose a temperature that isn’t too high. Setting your hot tub to 40 degrees might not be the best or most comfortable way to enjoy your spa if you have high blood pressure.

Although we’ve stated a time of between 10 and 15 minutes, it’s also important to be mindful of how you are feeling throughout the experience. If you start to feel light-headed, we recommend getting out of your hot tub as a precaution.

Enjoy your hot tub with a friend or family member

Another precaution to take when combining hot tubs and high blood pressure is to enjoy the experience with someone else. Whether that person is a friend or family member, this is a great piece of advice as they can be on hand to help out if you start to feel light-headed, reducing the risk of health issues during your hot tub use.

Don’t use a hot tub if you have extremely high blood pressure

If you’re unfortunately in the ‘Extremely High Blood Pressure’ category, we recommend avoiding hot tub use, as you’ll be putting yourself at too much risk by doing so. Hydrotherapy can worsen your symptoms if your pressure levels are too high, despite some research suggesting lower levels of hypertension could benefit. It’s too dangerous to put your health at risk if you’re in the upper brackets of blood pressure, though, so make sure you know which category you belong to before bathing.

Don’t consume alcohol before or during your time in your hot tub

Another precaution to take when using a hot tub while having high blood pressure is to avoid consuming alcohol before or during your time in your hot tub. The reason for this is that alcohol can make you feel dizzy or drowsy, and this could make you lose track of your session duration.

If you lose track of your session duration, you’re most likely going to spend more than 15 minutes in your hot tub, which is not advisable for people with high blood pressure.

In addition to this, if you drink alcohol before or during your hot tub session, the combination of the high temperatures and alcohol could increase the risk of you fainting as you exit your hot tub into cooler temperatures.

Avoid moving between very hot and cold environments quickly

Our final recommendation for dealing with hot tubs and high blood pressure is to avoid moving between very hot and cold environments in a short space of time. The reason for this is that your blood pressure will move in different directions very quickly, which is bad for the body, and even more so if you experience high blood pressure. Finding the right temperature for your hot tub involves some trial and error, but consider turning the heat down a little if you’ll be exposing yourself to biting cold temperatures soon after.

Other ways to manage high blood pressure

If you are suffering from high blood pressure, there are ways to manage and improve your hypertension levels. This mainly involves making significant lifestyle changes, although medicine is also available to combat symptoms.

Lifestyle changes

The following lifestyle changes help manage high blood pressure:

  • Losing weight if you are overweight
  • Performing more exercise
  • Eating a healthier diet with less salt
  • Reducing alcohol intake
  • Quitting smoking
  • Having a better standard of sleep
  • Reducing levels of stress

Medications

If these lifestyle changes are hard for you to incorporate, there are different medications you can take to help manage your high blood pressure. This is something that can be prescribed to you upon the recommendation of your doctor. If you’re planning to use a hot tub and high blood pressure may be an issue, consulting your doctor is essential, so make sure to discuss any concerns with a medical professional if you may be affected.

Pick a suitable hot tub with Platinum Spas

The relationship between hot tubs and high blood pressure is one that should be dealt with sensibly, taking a precautionary approach, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t enjoy a hot tub at all if you have high blood pressure. Some research suggests hot tubs are good for high blood pressure, but you should always put a doctor’s advice first and be safe before jumping straight into a home spa session. By efficiently adopting our recommended precautionary steps, you can enjoy your hot tub with friends and family all year round!

Now that you’re up to speed on spa safety with high blood pressure, why not look at our collection of premium hot tubs? Our range has options for any budget and group size, so you can be sure there’s an option to suit your needs. If you’re wanting to start your hydrotherapy journey to help with your blood pressure, or just want to upgrade from your current tub, visit a Platinum Spas showroom and trust our experts to deliver the best hot tub experience possible.

Hot tub safety FAQs

Still have some questions around hot tub safety. Take a look at our most frequently asked questions below or get in touch with our team directly:

Who should not use a hot tub?

It’s recommended that pregnant women and people with particularly bad heart disease, including angina, should avoid using a hot tub, as well as people who experience extremely high blood pressure.

Does a hot tub raise or lower your heart rate?

Soaking in a hot tub often increases the heart rate of an individual and lowers their blood pressure. While this can help improve some people’s circulation, it could cause risks for those with a history of heart and blood issues. This is why it’s good practice to consult with your doctor prior to soaking if you have experienced heart problems.

Jamie Smith
Latest posts by Jamie Smith (see all)

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