How Soaking in a Hot Spring Pool Can Help Prevent Colds and Flu

Fall might bring cooler days, brightly colored leaves, and ubiquitous pumpkin spice, but it also means the arrival of cold and flu season. As we start spending more time indoors, germs have more opportunities to spread, and it won’t be long before it seems like everyone is coughing, sniffling, and sneezing.

We’ve all learned some cold and flu prevention tips over the last few years, from masking up in public to washing our hands more often. But even when you take precautions, there’s a chance you’ll get sick. When you do, visiting a hot springs facility like WorldSprings can help alleviate your symptoms and help you feel better faster.

Navigating the Cold and Flu Season

COVID-19 might have been the star of the show for the last few years, but that doesn’t mean the viruses that cause colds and the flu have disappeared. In fact, there are more than 200 different respiratory viruses that can cause cold symptoms, as well as dozens of influenza viruses.

The viruses that cause the common cold are highly contagious. They can spread through the air, close personal contact with an infected person, or by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching a surface with the virus on it.

Millions of people get colds every year. Symptoms range from mild nasal congestion and a runny nose to coughing, sneezing, a headache, sore throat, and body aches. In most cases, a cold doesn’t cause a fever; a fever is typically a sign that you have the flu or a more severe illness.

Most people would rather avoid getting a cold since the virus can make them miserable, and symptoms last up to two weeks. Regular handwashing, not touching your face, and wearing a mask can help stop the spread of the nasty germs, but you can do even more to boost your immune system and get through the winter without a cold, leaving you down for the count.

How a Hot Springs Pool Can Help Reduce Cold & Flu Symptoms

Relaxing in a hot spring pool can do wonders for your mood and overall well-being. Soaking in warm water can help you sleep better since warm water can trigger a relaxation response. While you soak, your body temperature increases; when you leave the pool, your body temperature drops, which signals your body that it’s time to sleep.

When you don’t feel well, a relaxing soak in warm water can help ease your aches and pains and provide a few additional benefits that can prevent and soothe your symptoms.

Immune System Boost

Slipping into a hot springs pool for a relaxing soak can give your immune system a much-needed boost to fight off infectious germs. But do hot soaks boost the immune system?

They do! For starters, hot water can create a “false fever” by elevating your body temperature, which can stop cold viruses from reproducing and making you sick. If you already have a cold, warming your body can help shorten its duration.

Soaking in hot water can also increase circulation, which also helps strengthen your immune system and make you feel better. Increasing your body temperature causes blood vessels to dilate, which supports better blood flow and delivers more oxygen to your organs. This can help increase production of the white blood cells that can fight off an infection.

Just the simple act of relaxing in the pool can also help support your immune system. When you’re stressed, your immune system doesn’t respond as well to the stress hormone cortisol. Not only does this make you more susceptible to colds, but it can also worsen your symptoms. Adding frequent hot springs soaks to your self-care routine can help you stay healthy even when surrounded by germs.

Finally, soaking in mineral springs can deliver a powerful boost of beneficial minerals that help support a healthy immune system. Your skin can absorb the minerals in the water, including immune-boosting magnesium, sulfur, potassium, iron, and zinc, which can help you fight off colds and the flu.

Respiratory Benefits

Research shows that dry air contributes to the spread of cold and flu germs, in some part because it dries out your nasal passages and makes them more vulnerable to viruses. Spending time in a hot springs pool with steam can add much-needed moisture, which can help you avoid getting sick and relieve congestion if you feel like you’re coming down with something. Extra moisture in the air opens your nasal passages so you can breathe easier and loosens mucus to clear out the congestion more easily.

Hydration

It might seem counterintuitive, but spending time in hot springs can contribute to dehydration, making you feel worse when you’re sick and leaving you more vulnerable to illness. Staying hydrated during cold and flu season is essential to prevent infection and help alleviate your symptoms.

Visit WorldSprings As Part of Your Winter Wellness Plan

With cold and flu season right around the corner, it’s time to start taking precautions to avoid getting sick this winter. Schedule a visit to WorldSprings to relax and give yourself the gift of a stronger immune system.