Lying peacefully in a hot bath: it’s the stuff of luxury holidays and spa days. You might easily accept this idea as relaxation therapy, a chance for some uninterrupted personal time, but can it actually be good for your heart or your metabolism? Could it help you maintain a healthy weight?

In the light of global lockdowns and limited availability of your go-to exercise, you may be reassured to know that two recent studies suggest exactly that.

Daily bathers have 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease

A 20-year observational study in Japan, following over 30,000 men and women concluded that those who took a hot bath daily had a 35% lower risk of heart disease and 25% lower risk of stroke, compared to people who bathed less than twice a week.

Participants were aged 40-59 years at the start of the study and had no history of cardiovascular disease or cancer. The researchers believe that the practice of taking frequent hot baths improved circulation and lowered blood pressure, resulting in lower incidences of coronary heart diseases.

Effects of a hot bath vs exercise on blood sugar

A study conducted in the UK compared the effects of exercise with sitting in a hot bath for an hour. The researchers noted that although exercise is well known to be important for health and well being, many people at risk of obesity or metabolic syndrome lack the opportunity or struggle with motivation to exercise regularly. They were interested in seeing if there were other modes of treatment that could be helpful in managing metabolic markers including inflammation, which is present in many types of chronic disease.

Half the group was assigned exercise on a stationary bike for an hour, the other half was submerged up to the waist in hot water for an hour. By the end of the study, they discovered that the hot bath significantly improved blood sugar management and lowered inflammatory markers. The exercise group showed greater improvement, but researchers hope that for those where exercise is difficult, regular hot baths could become a low-cost additional therapy to help them manage their chronic conditions.

So if you’re worried about getting enough exercise while in lockdown, or are suffering from low motivation, or additional aches and pains, you could run yourself a nice hot bath and relax in it for a while, knowing that you’re likely lowering inflammation, improving blood flow and blood sugar just by lying down.

Hot baths can affect your balance

There are obvious hazards to using a bathtub when it comes to balancing and we urge you to make sure your environment is safe. Also, bear in mind that getting up from a sitting position sometimes makes people feel dizzy, so take it slowly. And, as the warm water is improving blood flow, you may feel additionally light-headed for a time after your bath.

Check you have something safe to hold onto while getting into or out of the bath. A towel rail is not sturdy enough, perhaps consider installing a grab bar. Putting a rubber mat on the bottom of the bath is often more comfortable to sit on, as well as providing a non-slip surface when moving. And make sure you have a non-slip bath mat on the bathroom floor when you step out.