In an article entitled Biophysiologic Effects of Warm Water Immersion, the authors discuss the ways in which aquatic activity positively impacts various systems of the body, especially the cardiovascular system.
When one immerses oneself in warm water, the heart begins automatically pumping at a faster rate, as if one had just begun aerobic exercise. Thus, the heart gets a workout even while the body is at rest. This finding implies that immersion in hot water “may be a useful way of beginning cardiac rehabilitation or recovery from severe debility.”
But the benefits of warm water immersion apply equally to those of us whose hearts are already fairly healthy. As the article points out, “the effort required to circulate blood decreases while cardiac efficiency increases.” Thus, a soak in warm water seems to be an ideal choice for anyone who’s looking for a gentle way to give their cardiovascular system a little love.
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