Difference Between a Hot Tub and Sauna

In many places, people attempt to compare hot tubs with a sauna. Sadly, they are really comparing apples to oranges. It is true that they are both fruits, and they are both good for you, but that is about where the similarities end. So it is with a hot tub and sauna. It is true that they are both heat related, relaxing, and good for your health, the similarities really end there.

Hot tubs are pools of heated water, generally built with air jets that shoot air at high speeds through the water, creating a bubbling effect that can be rather soothing. The wet heat from a hot tub can relax muscles, as well as induce sweating which helps cleanse the body of toxins. As well, water gives buoyancy, which takes pressure off the muscle structure. In this way, hot tubs can often relieve minor aches and pains. Also, the combination of heat and air pressure can promote the growth of white blood cells, which aids in the bodies natural healing process.

Saunas are wooden rooms heated to above 80-degree temperatures. They can be either a wet, or a dry heat, depending on the sauna itself. The health benefits are similar to that of a hot tub, but also include a few more. The heat of a sauna can increase the heart rate by fifty to seventy five per cent. This is the same speed as a brisk walk, which makes sitting in a sauna for ten to fifteen minutes the equivalent of ten to fifteen minutes of exercise.

Because of the health benefits, both a hot tub and sauna are wonderful pieces of equipment to use. However, if you have a history of heart problems, you may wish to avoid the sauna in favor of the hot tub. Hot tubs become gradually hot, and therefore allow your body to become used to the heat much easier. Saunas, however, tend to be much more immediately hot, and the sudden change from extreme heat to cold can wreak havoc on ones blood pressure. Saunas are generally kept in environments where the temperature is moderate outside of the sauna, to avoid any problems.

As you can see, while the two are related, they are rather different in precisely what health benefits they provide, as well as what possible detriments exist. It's not unusual for public gyms and swimming pools to offer both a sauna and a hot tub, and many people enjoy alternating between them. It's a great way to get the best of both worlds.