Improve Sleep Disorders Using Hydrotherapy
On average, we need 7-8 hours of sleep every night to function properly. However, millions of people around the world are suffering from tossing and turning during long sleepless nights, which in turn can make life particularly difficult. Common causes of lack of quality sleep are insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, as well as many other sleep disorders.
Sleep disorders and their severity varies for each person, but the most common is insomnia. Insomnia is the inability to get to sleep, or the inability to stay asleep. There are two types of insomnia. Short term insomnia lasts for a maximum of three weeks and is usually caused by life changes. Long term insomnia lasts for more than four weeks and is usually caused by anxiety, depression, or a chronic medical issue.
Sleep can also be affected by other conditions and problems.
- Chronic Illnesses – Chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, lupus, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis can cause problems with sleep.
- Psychiatric Disorders – While there is no evidence that a sleep disorder can cause a psychiatric disorder, some psychiatric disorders can cause issues with sleep.
- Stress – Stress can cause a number of health issues, including sleep disorders. Managing stress appropriately is one of the most important skills you can learn.
- Menopause – 80% of women going through the menopause experience hot flashes, and night sweats. These symptoms can make it difficult to sleep.
- Aging – Some people find that it is more difficult to sleep as they get older.
Treating Sleep Disorders with Hydrotherapy
There are two common methods for treating sleep disorders. One is by taking sleep medications, which is something many people don’t want to do. The other is by changing the sleep routine. The safest and easiest way to change a sleep routine is by using hydrotherapy.
Hydrotherapy uses water to treat or ease an ailment or condition and is commonly associated with hot tubs. Hydrotherapy uses the heat, the buoyancy of water, and massaging water jets to help you sleep more soundly.
Here are a number of ways that hydrotherapy can help:
- The warmth of the water increases the blood flow, which allows a steady flow of blood around the body. Sometimes there can be too much blood flowing to the brain, which can make it difficult to fall asleep. A steady, consistent blood flow makes this less likely to happen. The warm water also helps raise the body temperature, which can also help you fall asleep.
- The buoyancy of water reduces the weight of your body by up to 90%. This makes it easier for you to move and exercise in the water, without the risk of joint or muscle damage.
- The water jets in a hot tub can massage out any aches and pains. It helps release endorphins and relaxes the body.
All of this helps treat sleep problems, and studies have found that relaxing in a hot tub before bed increases both the amount and quality of the sleep. Installing a home hot tub means that you can get all the benefits of hydrotherapy from the privacy and convenience of your own home naturally and without the use of medication.
Scott Bland has been in the leisure industry for nearly 20 years. As a sales manager in the leisure industry he knows hot tubs inside and out. Right now he works sales while writing about hot tubs, pools and spas on his blog, www.scottbland.ca
