• Hot tub treatments can be relaxing and may help insomnia sufferers.bathroom image by Mikhail Olykainen from Fotolia.com
  
  Hot tubs and warm spas have been in use for thousands of years -- from ancient Roman bath houses to modern jetted hot tubs. They're commonly used to help people relax, but they have real therapeutic benefits, too. Along with other treatments, regular hot tub use can help people reduce stress, relieve pain and improve overall health.
  
  

Improved Circulation

• According to the American Heart Association, hot tubs pose no risk to healthy people if used correctly. Even people with high blood pressure can tolerate them well, and hot tubs may help improve blood circulation. The heat from the hot tub encourages the blood vessels to dilate, and allows the blood to flow more easily. High blood pressure sufferers should take care to avoid moving between cold water and a hot tub, however -- the temperature change could be risky.
  
  

Stress Relief

• According to the Penn State Daily Collegian, the primary benefit of hot tub use is stress relief. Warm later allows muscles to relax, and helps reduce accumulated cell waste. Hot tubs can also help loosen tight muscles and improve sleep quality. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a hot tub soak before bed can help people alleviate the stress of the day and get to sleep more easily.
  
  

Reduced Pain

• Hot tub treatments may be appropriate for pain, too. Mild aches and pains associated with muscle strains and tension can be soothed by heat. Users should remember that hot tubs don't fix all pain, though. An acute injury, like a sprain or twist, is better treated using ice. Once the injury has begun to heal, however, a warm hot tub soak can help increase blood flow and make it easier to move the affected body part.
  
  

Arthritis Relief

• Treating arthritis pain with hot tub therapy is particularly effective, since the buoyancy the water takes pressure off the joints. The heat also helps relieve pain in much the same way as it does for muscle strains. A warm soak or light exercise in a hot tub can do a lot to help arthritis sufferers, and some insurers do cover hot tub installation.