Achi news desk-
A friend of mine recently lost her security deposit on the vacation home she and her fellow hens were renting for a weekend. Why? Well, she dropped microwavable lasagne into the hot tub.
It could happen to anyone.
Despite doing their best to filter all the pieces of minced beef and curdled white sauce that bubbled to the surface, it was all in vain. The damage was done.
However, a stray lasagne may be the least of your vacation hot tub worries.
There may be a host of other nasties lurking unseen in the water. Despite the potential wellness benefits of heat and hydrotherapy, enjoying a relaxing dip in the hotel hot tub could do more harm than good.
Hot tub lung
For example, it is possible to catch a respiratory condition, colloquially referred to as hot tub lung.
It is triggered by microbes called mycobacteriafrom the same family as those that cause the tuberculosis (TB) infection.
As with TB, hot tub lung bacteria produce patches of inflammation in the lung tissue. This leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough and fever. The lung changes can be seen on an X-ray or CT scan of the chest, and can appear quite intense.
The hot tub acts as a perfect environment for the growth of these bacteria because the warmth of the system creates an optimal temperature for their propagation. The bubbling of the water also acts as an aerosol – allowing the bacteria to be released into the air, where they can be inhaled.
Unlike TB, which requires long-term antibiotics and is becoming increasingly difficult to treat, hot tub lung can be considered more of an inflammatory condition.
Hot tub lung was classified relatively recently, compared to other lung diseases, and was first described in 1997. It is more likely to be associated with people who use hot tubs frequently, or the those with a weak immune system.
Water borne bugs
There are many other organisms that can thrive in hot tub machines.
These include legionellathe bacteria that cause the potentially serious infectious disorder Legionnaires’ disease.
It’s not just hot tubs that limit Legionella breeding grounds either. It is found naturally in fresh water and grows particularly well in water that is heated to warm temperatures. Therefore, showers, swimming pools and air conditioning units can also pose risks.
The symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are very similar to those of other respiratory infections, including shortness of breath and a dry or phlegmy cough. But it is common to have other complaints such as muscle aches and headaches as well. Hospital treatment may be required, and antibiotics should be prescribed.
It’s not just the lungs that can be affected by waterborne bacteria. Bacteria in hot tubs can cause skin infections, such as hot tub folliculitis, which can occur in clusters of outbreaks.
Hot tubs can also cause eye infections, especially if they wear contact lenses. So it is wise to remove them before entering.
Benefiting from the benefits
If you avoid the bacteria, hot tubs can have some positive effects on health and well-being.
It is possible, for example, that heat therapy could produce so-called “heat shock” proteins, which have the ability to affect metabolism. Human trials have found that these proteins could influence the body’s sensitivity to insulin and lay down fatty tissue, thus acting as natural treatments for diabetes and obesity.
The potential restorative properties of simple immersion in water, heated or cooled, are well documented. Water is a means of supplying heat, but also cold temperatures, sometimes to the extreme.
Cold water immersion (CWI) has attracted a lot of attention, and dedicated cold tubs are making more appearances. Alongside potential benefits – including speedy healing and recovery, improved mood and improved immunity – there are serious risks. These can include drowning and fatal cardiac arrhythmias, caused by the extreme cold. There is no medical consensus, however, as to whether the benefits of CWI outweigh its risks.
Exercising in water, the branch of alternative medicine known as hydrotherapy, has been proposed as a holistic technique to treat a myriad of conditions. These range from high blood pressure to cancer. Although the jury is still out on the overall effectiveness of this method, some patients have reported improved energy and mood levels, as well as less anxiety and pain.
So, the next time you think about heading into the hot tub with a glass of champagne, consider what you could be stepping into.
Make sure, at the very least, that the tub is properly maintained and cleaned. But be aware that chlorine does not kill all the nasty things like legionella.
Whatever you do, make sure you pop your contact lenses – and never take lasagne into a hot tub.
