When Should You Not Use the Hot Tub

There are various benefits to hot tub use in aiding your health, stress level and overall well being. Despite all the amazing benefits of hot tub use, there are several types of people that should not use a hot tub or should be careful while using the spa. So how do you know if you are one of those people? Read on.

If you are pregnant - According to the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS), a body temperature of 101º F and above can raise concerns during pregnancy. Some studies have shown an increased risk of birth defects in babies of women who had an increased body temperature during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that becoming overheated in a hot tub is not recommended during pregnancy. ACOG also recommends that pregnant women never let their core body temperature rise above 102.2º F. If you still want to use the hot tub when pregnant, you are advised to limit your time to five minutes or less, and make sure your body temperature never reaches above 102º F.

If you have high blood pressure - People with hard-to-control hypertension (high blood pressure) may experience worsening blood pressure in response to heat exposure from a hot tub. In addition, many blood pressure medications interfere with the normal response of the body to heat exposure. Those with high blood pressure should talk to their doctor before any hot tub use.

If you have low blood pressure – Blood vessels in the skin dilate when a person is immersed in a hot tub and that can cause the blood pressure to fall. For those with already low blood pressure to begin with, this could be life threatening if the person passed out while using the hot tub. Please talk with your doctor before using the hot tub if you have any blood pressure issues.

If you are dehydrated – Hot tub use can be a problem in people who have blood vessel blockages to the brain and the heart. The body lacks enough water to fill the blood vessels. Low fluid volume means lower blood pressure. A dehydrated person feels weak and dizzy especially when standing. Hot tubs can cause dehydration since they raise your body temperature and help you sweat to release toxins. Make sure you drink plenty of water before, during and after using a hot tub.

If you are taking certain medications - There are a number of medications that can affect the body’s normal response to heat either by inhibiting sweating or by otherwise interfering with the normal physiology. For example, some medications used for psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia or the use of stimulant medications for conditions like ADD or excessive sleeping also increases the health risks from heat exposure. If you are on any of these medications, please speak with your doctor before using a hot tub or spa.

If you are under the age of 5 - As the MayoClinic.com reports, very young children should generally not use hot tubs as they do pose potential health risks. They recommend that you not allow your child to use a hot tub until he is tall enough to stand in the middle of the tub with his head above water. Using this rule of thumb may make deciding whether your child is ready a bit less of a guessing game.

In order to make hot tub use a safe and relaxing experience, remember to keep your spa water temperature no higher than 104°F and be sure to accurately monitor the temperature. Higher temperatures can place undue strain on the cardiovascular system. Also, limit your stay to no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. As you are exiting, cool down gradually after use and avoid going rapidly from a hot to a cold environment.

You should also try to drink 2 to 4 glasses of water after each session to re-hydrate your body. Also, never go into the hot tub if you are ill, and if you find yourself feeling unwell while in a hot tub, head for the door.
Hot tubs are a great addition to your home and have many health benefits. Use the tips above to use the hot tub or spa safely and without issue. Spas And Stuff offers a great selection of hot tubs and accessories with low prices and free shipping.

What to Consider When Buying a Hot Tub

There are not too many ways that are better to unwind and fully relax your muscles, than the warm massaging water of a hot tub. This could be one of the greatest additions to your home. The days or weeks before you buy a hot tub, there are several things you should consider before you make the big purchase.

The most desirable hot tubs are taller and can be a little difficult to climb into. To help alleviate this issue, in ground installation might be the perfect option for you, especially if you have a patio or deck area that could fit and incorporate a hot tub. If there is no option for in ground installation at your home, condo or vacation house, focus your search on models that include hot tub steps and maybe add a hot tub handrail.

In order to promote safety for your family and neighbors, we suggest features such as automatic shut off and a strong, locking cover, which are standard on all the hot tubs from Spas And Stuff. Some cities might actually require you to have a gate or fence around the hot tub as well, so make sure you check your local regulations.

Make sure you consider the location of your hot tub near required utilities and hook ups that you need. Also, research hot tub options so you are aware of the cost of the particular spa and style you are looking for. Sometimes a major expense for a first-time hot tub purchaser is site preparation. Even an empty spa can easily weigh close to 1,000 pounds. Be smart and consult with a qualified contractor or structural engineer to make certain that whatever the support structure, it will be sufficient to carry the spa’s load size. If you need a simple pad for your ground and you do not want to use concrete, see our Spa Pads.

The health benefits of hot tub use are also an amazing bonus factor to consider. Joint pain relief, detoxing, increased blood flow, and better sleep are all benefits of hot tub use and hydrotherapy.

Hot tubs are a great addition to your home and are an amazing place to bring friends and family together. Spas And Stuff offers a great selection of hot tubs and hot tub accessories at low prices with free shipping. Our customer service reps can help you select the best hot tub choice for you.

Buy a Hot Tub for Health and Low Stress in 2013

The days before the holidays can seem like more pressure than pleasure. There is the hustle and bustle of trying to finish your holiday shopping and all of those Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve party invites you have to choose from. And in the end you still have to remember to wrap all of those last minute gifts. With stress and a high energy lifestyle and the world wanting more and more from each and every person, de-stressing options are are more important than ever. So what is there to do?

Hot tubs have long been known for their stress relief and relaxation properties. What we have noticed is the way most people feel the stress just melt away when they step foot into a warm, relaxing hot tub. The warm water relaxes and soothes muscle aches and pains, while helping melt away any tension from life. Turn on the jets for the added massing action of hydrotherapy. Hot tubs are like a personal escape from the many outside stress factors in life.

Stress is not good for you, as you probably know. Stress can do more than just sap all of your energy. It can trigger disease and shorten your lifespan. It can cause a myriad of health problems and issues as it begins breaking down your system. It can often lead to weight gain as well. So how can the hot tub help?

If you have a really bad and stressful day, the warm, calming water of your hot tub might be just what you need. It will help sooth away your worries and your muscle tension. You can even bring in a book if you like reading, candles or scent pods if you want a soothing scent. If you have  hot tub with a stereo, you can enjoy some relaxing music from your built in speakers.

What should you look for in a spa to make it the most relaxing experience? Make sure the hot tub is a good fit for your size and shape, and the seating is comfortable. Make sure your spa has multiple jets and jets that are adjustable. These are all great ways to make your hot tub as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

A nice, long hot tub soak might be just the thing to melt away the holiday stress. Head on over to our amazing hot tub model selection to choose the right one for you. And enjoy our free shipping and amazing prices! Happy Holidays from Spas And Stuff.

Hot Tub Stereos Liven Up The Spa

Hot tubs are becoming one of the more popular entertaining features in homes across the country. They are a great way to bring people together for a fun, relaxing and entertaining time. With so many different hot tubs and styles, there are a variety of options to make a hot tub fit into your life. One of the greatest parts of being a hot tub owner is all of the fun toys and hot tub accessories you can outfit your hot tub with.

Awesome and stylish drink holders, floating beer coozies, steps, storage containers, and umbrellas…the options are endless to make your hot tub your own. One of the new popular options for your spas are hot tub stereos.

The BellaGrande SL is one the most sought after hot tubs with a standard stereo system. This system includes four topside pop-up corner speakers that are accompanied by an in-cabinet sub-woofer for great sound quality and volume. A great feature with this stereo hot tub is that the corner speakers are positioned closer to your ears so you do not have to have the volume too loud to enjoy the music. On the other hand, should the occasion arise, the stereo has plenty of power "impress" the neighbors!

In-cabinet sub-woofers improve the sound quality and we always include them on our stereo spas. At Spas And Stuff, we figure that if you are going to add a stereo to your hot tub, the most important feature is the sound quality. These speaker options can be used for stepping up the romance, pumping up the party, or setting a relaxing mood.

SpasAndStuff.com always includes a floating remote for hot tub bather convenience. This allows you to change the music or volume without leaving your seat. We also have two other spa lines with optional stereos. These are the Free Free-Spirit model spas and the Free-Spirit Lounger models.

Visit www.spasandstuff.com to check out our stereo options for your next hot tub. Your entertaining will get a boost and the outdoor hot tub will be the place to be during your next party.

Buying A Hot Tub - Lounger or No Lounger?

There are so many hot tub and spa options that it can be difficult to choose which one is the perfect option for you and your family. Most of the time you have to ask how many people will normally be using your hot tub and how much room you will need. Then you have to ask how large of a hot tub you can buy and consider where you will be putting it, either indoors or outdoors.

For those of our customers who plan on using the hot tub a lot to relax and for therapy work, hot tubs with a personal lounger seat are a great option. They have a lounge-type chair where you can extend your legs, lay back and truly relax in style. If you and your partner would like some more one on one time our Solitude hot tub is perfect to sit and lounge side-by-side. Lounger hot tubs come in all different sizes to fit your needs.

Lounger hot tubs allow the user to escape and relax at a different level from sitting in a regular hot tub. The beauty is you can also sit or lounge, giving this option a nice versatility. Perfect for the person who will mainly be using their hot tub for hydrotherapy and extreme relaxation.

If you are using your hot tub more for entertainment and having a lot of people in the spa the majority of the time, hot tubs with maximum individual seats may be the best choice for you. They give more seating options and allow for everyone to enjoy the hot tub comfortably. These are perfect for the house where the hot tub will get a ton of use by friends and larger families. With round, square and additional shape options, we will find the hot tub to fit all of your needs.

SpasAndStuff.com has discount prices on a great selection of both Lounger and No-Lounger hot tubs and spas. Factory direct hot tubs with free shipping.

Adding a Hot Tub as a Home Improvement

Including a hot tub in your next home improvement project just might be the best thing to increase your home value. When you look around your house, you think of a million things you might want to update or change. Is a hot tub on your list? What is the best way to add a hot tub to your home? We have the answer.

Hot tubs are great for bringing people together and relaxing while entertaining with friends and family. A hot tub has many benefits including physical relaxation as well as providing a great atmosphere for social gatherings. And because a hot tub is heated they can be used all year round.

So where should you put the hot tub to increase the value of your home and make sure it gets the most use?

The Outdoor Hot Tub in the Backyard. Many people love adding a hot tub to their backyard or patio. Since they are heated and can be used all year around, they can be used in all different climates, including snowy vacation homes. With the many different shapes and options, adding a hot tub to your backyard is a great option. If you have the room, you can also add a cabana to surround your hot tub, making it a backyard sanctuary.

The Indoor Basement Hot Tub. Many homes across the nation have basements that are the perfect place to upgrade with a hot tub or spa. These basements are normally slightly colder than the main levels of a home, since they are underground. Plus, basements can be made into entertainment central, with movie rooms, bar features and a relaxing hot tub in the corner. When you are having a get together, many people flock toward the basement in a home since it is designed for entertainment in many instances. What better addition than a spa?

The Bathroom Hot Tub. Some friends of mine decided to upgrade their abode in a major way by adding an amazing hot tub right in the bathroom. They designed the room around this amazing feature, and it was one to remember. Everyone who goes to their home mentions how perfect it is to relax in your hot tub in the comfort of your own home, and how convenient it is to have it right in your bathroom! This might be a great option for you if you have a large bathroom and want to create a relaxing sanctuary.

What other interesting places can you come up with for a hot tub? If you are thinking about some home improvement options for your home, adding a spa to the house or a hot tub in the backyard might be the perfect answer. Visit Spas And Stuff for many perfect hot tub options, including saltwater hot tubs and saltwater hot tub conversions. They offer all different shapes and sizes to fit exactly what you are looking for.

Loving the Round Hot Tub Trend

There are so many benefits to owning a hot tub. Detoxing and relieving muscle soreness are two advantages many active people and those suffering from arthritis think of when hot tubs are brought up. The best way to help heal muscle soreness after a tough workout is to fully relax your muscles, and hot tubs can help you achieve this relaxation. Spending just 30 minutes in a hot tub after working out can help decrease muscle inflammation, helping you recover quickly.

Many people love taking advantage of the benefits listed above, and a round hot tub is shaped perfectly for this. Round hot tubs are the traditional hot tub shape, fitting in the corner of a room or in a smaller space if needed. Most round hot tubs typically sit four to seven people, depending on the model and the size of the hot tub.

Round spas tend to have a more open seating plan feel. The jets in a round hot tub are in strategic positions to define the seats, although some models have sculpted seats. Round hot tubs with barrier-free seating make it easy to move from seat to seat. It depends on your preference and what size and model you are looking at. The average round hot tub measures 78 inches in diameter, but they also come in many different sizes.

Round hot tubs are easy to move and come be situated in smaller house situations easier than some larger rectangular models. As with all hot tubs, it is personal preference depending on how much space you have, how large of a hot tub you would like, and what style you prefer.

SpasAndStuff.com has a great selection of round hot tubs for you to choose from once you determine where you plan to put your hot tub. With a sleek design and the ability to be surrounded by swirling, relaxing water from jets in every position, round hot tubs would make the perfect addition to your house.