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Our blogs contain information about the theraputic value of owning a hot tub.  These articles are from experts, our customers and dealers.




Are there health benefits to hot tubs?

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Spas & Hot Tubs


When you think relaxation - you can think of a hot tub.

hands-in-the-waterThere are many benefits to sitting in an hot tub.  You don't need a research study to understand the health benefits to a good soak in a spa. 

Headaches, Stress, and Sleep

A hot tub can stimulate the release of our stress reducing endorphins. A hot tub’s hydrotherapy jets also dilate blood vessels to help prevent headaches. And when it comes to falling asleep faster and getting a deep night's sleep, the National Sleep Foundation clearly states, "soaking in hot water, such as a hot tub or bath, before retiring to bed can ease the transition into a deeper sleep." 

Muscles and joints

Ask any athlete in training -  Hydrotherapy is a staple in the training room.  One magazine article in Tennis Magazine said it best: “Your skin and muscles loosen and relax from the increased blood circulation” adding that, if muscles are injured: "Soaking in a hot tub with a whirlpool increases blood flow to the injured area, bringing nutrients to help repair the damage."

Arthritis

According to the Arthritis Foundation "Hydrotherapy is one method of using water to help treat arthritis. The soothing warmth and buoyancy of the water makes it a safe, ideal environment for relieving arthritis pain. Using a spa adds another component to the therapy - massage." 

Blood Sugar

One study taken in Colorado has shown that people suffering from type 2 diabetes have significantly brought their blood sugar down by regularly soaking in a hot tub for 15 to 30 minutes each day. Doctors who conducted the study speculated benefits of hot tub therapy could be due to increased blood flow to skeletal muscles. 

Read more: Are there health benefits to hot tubs?

 

The History of Hot Tubs

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Spas & Hot Tubs

History-of-Hot-tubbing-is-thousands-of-years-oldHot Tub History

The history of hot tubs and spas can be traced back before recorded history when early man made use of the earth's natural hot springs. Hot springs fed streams and pools, which were used for warmth and natural treatment by early man. Native Americans, were well aware of the healing properties of natural hot springs.

As early as 2000 B.C., ancient Egyptians used hot baths for therapeutic value.  As early as 600 B.C., Phraortes (King of Media [ancient Persia]) built one of the first known hot tubs.

The great philosophers of Greece (Plato, Hippocrates and others) make mention of the therapeutic value of water. Grecians were known to have built structures around hot springs.

Read more: The History of Hot Tubs

Historical Hot Tub Factoids

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Spas & Hot Tubs

More Hot Tub History...

  • The word SPA - "medicinal or mineral spring," 1626, from name of health resort in eastern Belgium, known since 14c., that featured mineral springs believed to have curative properties. The place name is from Walloon espa "spring, fountain."
  • Verse 2 of Genesis speaks of water - "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt received therapeutic baths and muscle treatments for his debilitating pain of polio during his administration from 1933-1945.
  • The first wooden hot tubs began to appear in the 1960's in California. Inspired by the Japanese ofuru, these early prototypes were still made from used oak barrels, wine tanks and olive vats from nearby wineries.

Read more: Historical Hot Tub Factoids

Hot Tub Tax Deduction

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Spas & Hot Tubs

Claiming a tax deduction for your Hot Tub:

The IRS stated in its opinion letter Index No.: 213.05-00, " Section 213(a) allows as a [tax] deduction the expenses paid during the taxable year for medical care of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent. Under § 213(d)(1)(A), an expense is for 'medical care' if its primary purpose is the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.   Notice the words "primary purpose".  Because a hot tub or spa is of a particularly personal nature, you must establish that your hot tub is "primarily" for the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease before you can deduct the cost of your hot tub on your tax return.  You may be able to claim your hot tub as a tax deduction even though you also derive pleasure from it and even though someone else such as your spouse may use the spa, as long as you are buying the hot tub or spa primarily to relieve pain due to an injury or disease.

You can also claim a deduction for the hot tub as a capital expense even if it is an improvement to your home.  Click here to read the IRS information.

Read more: Hot Tub Tax Deduction

Hot Tub Weight Loss

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Spas & Hot Tubs


Can you loose weight in a hot tub?


Fat, no. But you sweat in a hot tub. You just don't notice because you are in the water.  So any weight loss is water weight.

We recommend for the Best Hot Tub on the Market for Weight loss (a Nordic of course), the temperature setting should not be above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are drinking beverages in the tub, the net is zero - as far as water weight.
If those beverages have carbs - a definite no.

But...

Read more: Hot Tub Weight Loss

Personal Spa Treatment

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Spas & Hot Tubs

For centuries, people have travelled long distances to soak in the heated waters of natural hot springs. Hot tubs bring the comfort and restorative powers of heated, pulsating water jets to homeowners. Today's hot tubs are and swim spas utilize adnaced technology to improve the quality of your life at home.

In centuries past people travelled from hundreds of miles to visit hot spring pools where they could soak in the mineral-rich heated waters. Some were near geothermally active regions were sulphurous water was heated to more than 100 degrees. Hot water mineral spas have generated a lot of lore over the centuries, but practical experience has shown just how great hot water spas can be for human health. The benefits of hot springs were well known to natives for centuries and this is how many new immigrants learned of these miracle pools. The benefits of some of the minerals such as sulphur were offset by the putrid smell.

Read more: Personal Spa Treatment

Back Pain Relief

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Tips to help relieve your back pain

Back-Pain-Relief-in-a-Hot-Tub-from-Nordic
Chronic back pain can come from an injury, a disorder, or from aging:  muscle strain or spasm, sprains of ligaments (attaches bone to bone), joint problems or a "slipped disk."  Of all problems, the most common cause for back pain is using your back muscles in activities you're not used to, lifting something heavy or maybe yard work.

"We believe Nordic has the Best Hot Tubs for Back pain on the market today."

An aching back nags what ever you do. Your back moves when you walk, sit, stand and breathe, so what ever you do seems to aggravate the pain in your back. The most common area of the back is lower back pain and then pain in the shoulders and neck.

Ways-to-rest-your-back-for-back-relief-pain-remediesIf you hurt your back, the best position for relief is to lie on your back on the floor and place pillows under your knees.  Keep your hips and knees bent and put your feet on a chair.

You may need 1 or 2 days to rest your back.  Any longer may cause your muscles to weaken - slowing your recovery.  Try to walk around for a few minutes every hour or so - or walk to your hot tub and soak a bit.

Getting relief over time from your aching back is a process that is easy done every day. So, the top back pain remedies tips are:
  • Get a firm bed that fully supports your lower back
  • Do simple stomach / abdominal exercises every day
  • Get plenty of regular exercise like walking - be sure to stretch
  • Get plenty of sleep
  • And of course instantly relieve the pain in your back and treat yourself with a soak in a Nordic Hot Tub.

Circulation Problems

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Problems with Circulation

Circulatory system problems arise when there is limited blood flow to the legs, hands, heart and rest of the body. The blood vessels become blocked as a fatty substance called plaque builds up and hardens and constricts the walls of the arteries and veins. This interrupts the normal flow of blood through the vessels and results in poor circulation.

A variety of conditions can be brought on by poor circulation such as high blood pressure, hypertension, stroke, varicose veins, peripheral artery disease, heart disease, kidney damage, aneurysms, arteriosclerosis, Raynaud’s disease and phlebitis.

Read more: Circulation Problems

Treating Back Pain Naturally

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Pain in the Neck? or Back?

There are a number of different ways you can treat your back pain naturally: vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutrition, and homeopathy medicine, and home hydrotherapy.

Some will help heal your back pain and others are dangerous, so it's best to consult with a physician or nurse practitioner before taking anything and never, ever exceed recommended dosages.

The FDA has no control over natural supplements, so it does not recommend them.

Since supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

That doesn't mean, though, that all supplements are bad. Some medications turn out to be unsafe, too, despite rigorous trials and testing. The bottom line is to research every product you consider taking and make sure you get supplements from a reputable source, like a health food store.

Everybody's chemistry is different and reacts differently, so if you are considering taking a supplement equivalent to a pharmaceutical, you may still have some side effects.

Read more: Treating Back Pain Naturally

Health Benefits of Hot Tubs

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Health Benefits of Hot Tubs


Hot tubbing is a wonderful way to enjoy the afternoon or evening with a friends and family or may be a romantic interlude with your husband or wife. You may be surprised to know, however, that hot tubs are prescribed to people suffering from a number of ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure because a hot tub can have a wonderful effect on your health.

Physical Benefits

Sitting in a whirlpool or hot tub is essentially Hydrotherapy for the whole body. The jets and warm moving water helps remove tension from muscles and moves your whole body into a state of relaxation. This complete immersion increases circulation throughout the body and helps to detoxify the body.

Psychological Benefits

There are many psychological benefits to be had by spending half an hour in the hot tub every day. A hot tub recreates the atmosphere of the womb for us. We feel most safe, secured and relaxed in such an atmosphere. Getting in touch with this on a regular basis can help you tremendously. It will help you become better adjusted in society and in handling your relationships. More importantly, you will get less stressed and will be able to cope with stress better.

Read more: Health Benefits of Hot Tubs

Circulation, Stress & Flexibility

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Health

Soaking in a hot tub is a well established treatment for many ailments.

Many health care providers recommend the following for maladies and conditions that are both chronic and acute:
  • Improve Circulation
  • Reduce Stress
  • Increase Flexibility
stress-reduction-non-prescription-smllrIf you look at any body of medical literature or research, one of the most common recommendation is to Reduce Stress. How many times to you hear about a practitioner suggesting you improve your life habits and eliminate stress for: heart ailments, arthritis, fibromyalgia, head aches, migraines, nervous disorders, tinnitus, and general anxiety.

You can learn more by searching these key words:
  • anxiety disorders
  • stress induced health issues
  • reducing stress naturally
  • fibromyalgia and stress
  • arthritis and relaxation
  • common anxiety treatments
  • non-drug treatment for stress
  • low cost stress reduction

Read more: Circulation, Stress & Flexibility

Fibromyalgia Hot Tub Treatment

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Health

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of overall pain and may make it difficult to work or to perform your normal activities.

man-woman-relaxing-in-a-nordic-hot-tub
Fibromyalgia symptoms vary and the underlying causes are not well understood. Some of the symptoms include:
  • Pain and Stiffness
  • Fatigue
  • Poor Circulation
  • Digestive Troubles
  • Irritable Bowel / Bladder
In all cases, health care providers recommend basic fibromyalgia treatment by working on flexibility and improving blood flow - prime effects from soaking in a Whirlpool and Hot Tub. 

Read more: Fibromyalgia Hot Tub Treatment

Fibromyalgia Cost Alternative

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Health

You can spend thousands of dollars on natural, or pharmaceutical treatments for Fibromyalgia.

Today we look to the drug manufacturers to cure our ills when often times their solution is only symptom relief. Fibromyalgia is one of those conditions. Little is known about the cause and less is known about a cure.

Although the advertising for Fibromyalgia prescription drugs is new, the condition is not new. There are many names for this condition given all around the world and over hundreds of years of medicine. There is a tremendous controversy over its existence, and even more over it’s criteria for diagnosis. Our aging population is seeing more of this condition and their basic symptoms. Being concerned about drug costs leads one to want to spend your dollars of specific remedies with overall health benefits.

Read more about the costs for symptom relief and an alternative that has few - if any - side effects - a Nordic Hot Tub:

Read more: Fibromyalgia Cost Alternative

What is Hydrotherapy?

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Simply, it is using water to revitalize and restore health.


Hydrotherapy is the use of water to revitalize, maintain, and restore health. When we think of hydrotherapy, we typically envision whirlpools, spas, hot tubs, saunas, steam baths, foot baths and hot water compresses. Water healing is one of the oldest, least expensive and safest ways to treat many ailments.

Benefits of Hydrotherapy:  Increased Flexibility • Reduced Stress • Improved Circulation • Relaxation


You know how you feel after soaking in a tub of hot water. Add the whirlpool, the jets (DTS) and it is perfect after a stress filled day.

Read more: What is Hydrotherapy?

About Arthritis and Whirlpool

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The definition of arthritis is: "joint inflammation."


Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.

You know it hurts. You should know that there are different types - and there are more natural ways to ease the pain. Now lets learn a bit more.

Types of Arthritis:

Read more: About Arthritis and Whirlpool

Balneotherapy

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From the Latin word balneum or "bath"


bubbles-thinYou don't need a study, or research grant to prove that taking a nice hot bath sooths and calms.  But if you want a fancy word for bath therapy use: Balneotherapy. 

Now you can tell your husband or wife that you need at least an hour of Balneotherapy after a hard day at work. 

Or you can read about the benefits of balneotherapy from the National Institute of Health (NIH) - see below.

Read more: Balneotherapy

Polymyalgia Rhuematica or Fibromyalgia

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Fibromyalgia

A reader recently wrote in requesting more information about a condition called Polymyalgia Rhuematica. My article ideas often come from the readers who would like the readership to be aware of a certain condition or would like to know more information on a certain topic.

A diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica is more certain than that of fibromyalgia (FMS) because its characteristics are more certain, even though they have many of the same symptoms.

Similarities include facial pain, pain in the joints, unintentional weight loss, fatigue (lack of energy), and malaise (general discomfort).

Polymyalgia Rhuematica occurs most often in people over 50 years old. Other differences include pain localized in the hip and shoulder area, anemia and fever. Fever, in absence of cold/flu/infection symptoms, is the first indicator of the condition.

Read more: Polymyalgia Rhuematica or Fibromyalgia

Tips on Coping with Arthritis

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Arthritis

Arthritis is the name given to a group of related diseases, which include osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus and fibromyalgia. In its various forms, arthritis affects the young and old, both sexes and all races. Although there are over 100 kinds of arthritis, they share one thing: they all rob otherwise healthy people of their quality of life by making even the simplest of movements painful. This pain is caused by inflammation of the lining of the body's joints.

How do we treat the illness that affects so many people? On answer is with drugs, such as the "NSAIDs."

Read more: Tips on Coping with Arthritis

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