Do you ever wonder why when you come out of hot water, you are ready to hit the hay? Whether it’s soaking in a hot tub or simply taking a hot bath, hot water is known to cause drowsiness and even fatigue. If you’ve always wondered the reason behind feeling tired after hot tubs, you have come to the right place. Today, we’ll dive into the details of why hot tubs make people feel tired and the science behind these reasons.
There are a number of reasons hot tubs make you feel tired. The heat of the water and the relaxing feeling of hot tubs are just a couple of reasons why you may feel tired after soaking in a hot tub. Additionally, hot tubs can cause dehydration, which, in turn, leads to drowsiness.
If you’d like to learn more about why hot tubs make you feel tired, read on! In this article, we’ll explain why hot tubs make you feel sleepy and why it’s beneficial to soak in a hot tub before going to bed.
Why Do You Feel Tired After Being in a Hot Tub?
Have you ever soaked in a hot tub, only to come out of the water feeling exhausted? If so, you are not alone. Tiredness is a common feeling after exiting a hot tub, or even just a hot bath. Even if you keep your hot tub sessions short, you’ll likely feel drowsy as soon as you come out of the water. This may lead you to ask the question, why do hot tubs make you tired?
In short, there are a number of reasons why hot tubs make you feel tired. While the main reason is due to a hot tub’s influence on the body’s thermoregulation process, other factors may cause sleepiness as well. Dehydration, for instance, can lead to fatigue and dizziness.
Below, let’s take a closer look at how hot tubs affect the body and why they tend to make you feel sleepy.
Hot Tubs Affect Your Body Temperature
The number one reason hot tubs make you tired is their effect on the body’s thermoregulation process. Thermoregulation is a process that allows the human body to maintain its core internal temperature. This core temperature naturally rises and falls throughout the day. Normally, it reaches its peak during the early evening and begins to drop at nighttime. Whenever the core temperature drops, it triggers your body to fall asleep.
When soaking in a hot tub, your body’s core temperature gradually begins to rise. It then rapidly falls after exiting a hot tub. As the cold air surrounds your body, your core temperature mimics the cooldown process your body naturally experiences at night. As a result, you may feel drowsy.
Hot Tubs Are Relaxing
There’s something about the warmth of a hot tub that makes the body feel relaxed. Not only do your muscles become relaxed, but your entire body unwinds. For this reason, hot tubs tend to make you feel sleepy.
If you suffer from joint pain or aches, soaking in a hot tub will likely relieve any discomfort in your body. The buoyancy of the water takes the weight off painful joints and tense muscles, allowing your body to relax. Moreover, hot tubs improve blood flow in the body, helping ease muscle soreness.
In addition to physically relaxing the body, hot tubs can aid you emotionally as well. Because the heat releases endorphins in your body, hot tubs can help clear your mind and get rid of mental stress. As a result, you’ll feel much more relaxed after taking a 15 to 30-minute soak in a hot tub.
Hot Tubs Cause Dehydration
Another reason why you may feel tired after being in a hot tub is that you’re dehydrated. Whether you realize it or not, being in a hot tub for even as short as 20 minutes can cause dehydration. As you soak in a hot tub, your body sweats in an attempt to cool you down. Although it is near impossible to cool down the body when submerged in a hot tub, the body will continue sweating in an effort to lower your internal temperature.
Simply put, the more you sweat, the more you become dehydrated. This is why it is important to hydrate before entering a hot tub and as soon as you exit a hot tub. If you aren’t fully hydrated, you may become tired after soaking in a hot tub.
Can A Hot Tub Help You Sleep?
Because hot tubs can make you feel tired, you may wonder whether or not hot tubs help you sleep. If you’re desiring a good night’s rest, there are a few reasons why you should consider soaking in the hot tub before heading off to bed.
As we mentioned earlier, sleep can often be triggered by a drop in internal body temperature. Thus, you may feel tired and ready for bed after you exit the hot tub.
Another reason to take a dip in the hot tub before bed is that it relaxes the body. Because hot water eases tense muscles and joint pains, you are more likely to fall asleep after being in a hot tub.
Finally, soaking in a hot tub reduces emotional stress and anxiety, allowing you to fall asleep with a clear mind. Because anxiety can disrupt sleep, you may find it beneficial to soak in a hot tub before going to bed. If you want to improve the relaxation effect of your hot tub, consider combining it with aromatherapy. Common choices are lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood. Simply pour the essential oils directly into the water to create a calming, relaxing environment.
If you’re looking to improve your sleep at night, consider soaking in the hot tub 90 minutes before bed. Remember to only stay in the hot tub for 15 to 30 minutes, as being in a hot tub too long causes your body to overheat. Always enter a hot tub well-hydrated, and exit a hot tub immediately if you experience symptoms such as dizziness, light-headedness, or nausea.
