Why People With Heart Conditions Can't Go Into Hot Tubs
The heat of hot tubs can have a drastic effect on people who suffer from a heart condition. Whether your condition is related to blood pressure, heart rate or a structural problem, a hot tub can be a unsafe, and you probably should avoid it.
Other People Are Reading
-
Low Blood Pressure
-
According to cardiologist Larry Weinrauch at HealthCentral, blood vessels in the skin dilate when a person is immersed in a hot tub, and that causes the blood pressure to fall. For those with low blood pressure concerns, this could be life threatening if the person becomes unconscious while in the hot tub.
High Blood Pressure
-
In patients with high blood pressure, Dr. Larry Weinrauch says, the pressure will drop temporarily while they are in the hot tub and for a short while after. Also, blood pressure might not stay at a safe level in people whose pressure is hard to control.
-
Arrhythmia
-
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that can occur from extra beats or skipped beats. If a patient with this condition enters a hot tub and the blood vessels dilate, a change in blood pressure can increase the number of irregular beats that occur. Some arrhythmias can be life threatening, depending on the area of the heart in which they occur and the overall health of the patient.
Pacemaker
-
If a patient recently had a pacemaker implanted, the heat from the hot tub could cause the skin at the pacemaker site to become open. This can lead to infection or damage to the pacemaker.
Tachycardia
-
Tachycardia occurs when the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute in an average adult. In severe cases of tachycardia, the heart rate can get as high as 250 beats per minute. Dilation and blood pressure changes upon entering and soaking in a hot tub can cause a single irregular beat, which can send a person into a tachycardia tailspin.
-
