This article comes from Hot Tub Focus.
Why Do Hot Tubs Dehydrate You?
Most of us know that when we are thirsty we need to drink more and when we are getting a headache we are probably dehydrated. So why is it that so many people still managed to suffer the effects of dehydration when in a hot tub?
It’s hard to sweat in a hot tub
First of all, bear in mind that it’s actually quite hard work for our bodies to sweat and keep us cool in a hot tub. You will probably be almost completely submerged up to your neck in water that is above your body temperature so the only part of the body that gets chance to really cool down is the head. This is a relatively small area compared with the rest of our body surface area and so we can start to sweat profusely.
You don’t notice sweat in a hot tub
The second problem is that you don’t really notice that you are sweating so profusely in a hot tub because you are already wet! You might not realize how much sweat you are losing because you are wet already and it doesn’t register in your mind that you need to drink until it’s too late and you are well on your way to becoming dehydrated.
Hot tubs are often in very hot positions
This isn’t helped by the fact that hot tubs are often located in sheltered sunny spots. This is great for keeping the hot tub warm and also for when you are getting in and out of the hot tub and lounging around but, if you are submerged in very hot water and the sun is beating down on your head as well, you will have a very hard time not to overheat.
Not exercising / out of mind
We also tend to associate sweating and keeping hydrated with exercising and working hard. Being in a hot tub is the complete opposite of this and so we are just not in the right frame of mind to drink regularly.
Drinking alcohol
However, when we do drink in a hot tub many of us go for an alcoholic drink. This fits in really nicely with the chilled out and relaxed vibe of the hot tub experience but alcohol is well known for dehydrating you. This puts an even greater strain on the body which is already working hard to keep cool and hydrated. Adding alcohol into the mix makes the risk of dehydration much higher.
Hot tubbing after exercise
Many people also like to jump into the hot tub after a workout or exercise. This is great as it relaxes muscles and is a great way to rejuvenate your body. However, you might already be overheated or dehydrated from exercising even if you are not experiencing any of the symptoms as yet. Getting into the hot tub will fast track the dehydration and cause you to start feeling unwell more quickly.
Forgetting how long you have been soaking
Finally, it can be very hard to keep track of how long you have been in a hot tub. In many ways this is great because you will probably be in a very relaxed state, unplugged from your phone and maybe just chatting to family or friends. However, if you do lose track of the time you won’t be able to stay in your hot tub for the recommended 15 – 30 minutes or so before you will possibly start overheating and dehydrating. Even if you have water and are trying to remember to drink losing track of time or getting absorbed in conversation is an easy way to forget to regularly take sips of water.
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