Sleep Soundly with Heat Therapy Before Bed

The National Sleep Foundation, determined in a recent poll that 132 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders including mild to chronic insomnia more than one night a week. According to the poll 48% of women and 38% of men suffer from insomnia. The growing number of sleep disorder centers across the nation (approximately 3,000 in the U.S. Today) demonstrates that the number of people suffering from sleep disorders may be on the rise. A sleep therapy center in Louisville, KY, says that insomnia is the second most prevalent reason people go to the doctor (after pain).

Many cases of insomnia can be traced to hectic, stressful lifestyles lived by basically healthy people. Battered nerves, grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and erratic mood swings are all symptoms of sleep deprivation. Important precursors to restful sleep are alleviating tension and easing your body into relaxation. A hot tub is an excellent option. The heat and buoyancy of the water increases body temperature and alleviates pressure on joints and muscles, creating a sense of relaxation.

A recent study in the scientific journal Sleep suggests that a drop in body temperature can help ease you into a deeper, more relaxing sleep. It is recommended that about 90 minutes before bedtime you soak in very hot water (103° F). The body's internal thermostat will pull your temperature down as a result of your immersion in higher temperatures, enabling sleep to set in with more ease. Ideally you can achieve this by taking a 15 minute soak in a hot tub.

This therapeutic use of warm water is called hydromassage. Spa-induced sleep is a natural remedy, unlike alternative sleeping aids such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies and alcohol-all of which can make you feel groggy and have other adverse side effects.