Why shouldn't you spend more than 15 minutes in a hot tub?

Author: Kaylah Hamill  |  Last update: Friday, April 4, 2025

Staying in your hot tub too long can result in dizziness, light-headedness, overheating and dehydration, especially if you're soaking at a higher temperature. It can also cause burns, decrease in blood pressure, increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting.

Why can't you stay in a hot tub for longer than 15 minutes?

Staying in a hot tub too long can cause overheating, dehydration, or a drop in blood pressure. This can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even faint. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can also strain your heart and lead to heat exhaustion.

What happens if you spend too long in a hot tub?

Staying in a hot tub too long can cause overheating, dehydration, or a drop in blood pressure. This can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even faint. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can also strain your heart and lead to heat exhaustion.

What is the maximum time you should spend in a hot tub?

General Timing for Hot Tub Use

As a rule of thumb, you should only use your hot tub for between 15-45 minutes, and that time will depend on a variety of factors that you'll read more about below. If you've just bought a hot tub, then start out with shorter sessions until you find a duration that works for you.

How long is it unhealthy to be in a hot tub?

In many cases, you'll get the green light to stay in the spa as long as you're comfortable and feeling well. As a general rule of thumb, most hot tub sessions last between 15 and 45 minutes. If after 45 minutes you want to keep soaking, we recommend stepping out for a bit to give your body a break.

How Much Maintenance Should A Hot Tub Require?

Is it OK to sit in hot tub every night?

When shopping for hot tubs, many people will ask their dealers “Can I use a hot tub every day?” The short answer is that yes, it is safe to use your hot tub every day. There's a little more maintenance involved than what most people to do if you become a daily user, but it's entirely possible (and even easy, really).

How to avoid hot tub lungs?

Prevention is also important. Proper sanitation, ventilation and disinfection of the water are important. Pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen, smoking cessation, routine vaccinations (such as influenza and pneumonia vaccination) may be useful in some patients living with Hot Tub Lung.

What is the longest time spent in a hot tub?

The current world record for the longest time sitting in a hot tub is 306 hours! (We do not recommend beating it. Most agree that hot tub soaking time should last no longer than 30 minutes.)

Can you overheat in a hot tub?

Since the water in a hot tub is higher than your normal internal temperature, staying in a hot tub too long can cause you to overheat and experience symptoms like light-headedness, dizziness, or nausea. These symptoms are your body's way of telling you that it is time to get out of the hot tub and cool down.

Does a hot tub dehydrate you?

Soaking in hot tubs can increase your risk for dehydration. The hot water is causing your body to use systems that take up more water than usual. Softub accessories include a floating drink holder. In addition, the hot water can mask some of the signs of dehydration, putting you at added risk.

Why should people over 50 not use a hot tub?

Even more common in hot tubs is Legionella pneumophila, a bacterium that can cause Legionnaires' disease, a pneumonialike lung infection that is potentially serious, particularly for those ages 50 and older. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include: Cough. Shortness of breath.

Why do I feel sick after a hot tub?

Symptoms of overheating in a hot tub can include:

Dizziness or Light-headedness. Nausea or Upset Stomach. Sweating Excessively. Feeling Weak or Fatigued.

How long is too long in a hot bath?

An average adult should spend between 15 and 30 minutes in their hot tub. If the water temperature is 104° F (40° C), the maximum safe time is 15 minutes. If the water temperature is between 95-100° F, you should be able to stay in hot tubs for 30 minutes.

What happens if you spend too much time in a hot tub?

Long soaks can cause excessive sweating, making you dehydrate if you spend too long in the hot tub. This, paired with the hot temperature, can also elevate your body's internal temperature. Prolonged soaking in hot water can speed up your heart rate and cause blood pressure changes.

Are hot tubs good for your heart?

Both saunas and hot baths (or hot tubs) seem to be safe for people with stable heart disease and even mild heart failure. But people with unstable chest pain (angina), poorly controlled high blood pressure, or other serious heart issues should avoid them.

Why do I pass out after a hot tub?

Heat causes the blood vessels to expand (dilate), so body fluid moves into the legs by gravity, which causes low blood pressure and may result in fainting. Symptoms that could lead to heat syncope (fainting) include: Feeling faint or light-headed. Pale, cool, and moist skin.

What will ruin a hot tub?

10 Ways to Destroy Your Hot Tub
  • Leaving the Hot Tub Empty After Draining. If you want to cause serious hot tub problems, this can be the number one way. ...
  • Using Pool Chemicals in Your Hot Tub. Spa chemicals are specially formulated to work in hot water, and with hot tub surfaces. ...
  • Using a Pressure Washer.

What age should not go in a hot tub?

The Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and other medical professionals and safety bodies have generally recommended that children under the age of 5 years old should NOT use a hot tub or be subjected to extremely warm baths due to potential risks of overheating, heat stroke, dehydration, and bacterial ...

Why do I feel sick after a hot bath?

Bathing. Having a hot or prolonged shower/bath widens your blood vessels, increasing the risk of feeling faint (presyncopal) and increasing heart rate.

Is 2 hours too long in a hot tub?

Length of time spent in the hot tub in each sitting

About 15-30 minutes at a time is a general recommendation if you prefer very hot water. Hot tub sessions that go 30 minutes or longer increase your risk of negative effects of a hot tub on the body, so adjust your water temperature accordingly.

What is the life expectancy of a hot tub?

A hot tub can last anywhere from 5-20 years or more. Cheaper hot tubs made with lower quality materials won't last long. If those hot tubs are not well maintained, they may not last more than 5 years.

Why should you limit your time in a hot tub?

Even in the case of hot tub use — one of the best ways to relax — it's possible to go overboard. Staying in your hot tub too long can result in dizziness, light-headedness, overheating and dehydration, especially if you're soaking at a higher temperature.

What kills Legionella in a hot tub?

Hyperchlorinate the water to 20 ppm free chlorine. Circulate hyperchlorinated water with jets off for 1 hour. Circulate hyperchlorinated water with jets on for 9 additional hours. Maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of 20 ppm for a total of 10 hours.

What does hot tub lung feel like?

What are the symptoms of Hot Tub Lung? The most common symptoms are cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms often occur soon after exposure to the contaminated water.

Are hot tubs bad for inflammation?

Heat. The heat provided by hot tub water can help reduce swelling and the buildup of fluids in the body's tissues which are characteristics of painful inflammation. This can help improve the flexibility and mobility of joints affected by arthritis while decreasing the pain experienced from moving about.

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