With the warm weather continuing across Ireland and the recent rise in the sale of at-home inflatable hot tubs, people are being warned to keep them maintained to avoid nasty surprises.
Experts have previously warned that hot tubs can be dangerous to people with underlying medical conditions like heart disease, but they can also pose a risk to the health of otherwise healthy bathers.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic and WebMD have long been warning of the dangers given the growth in sales of personal hot tubs.
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All hot tubs sold in Ireland come with instructions on keeping them properly maintained, including the filters and heating equipment, in order to avoid diseases or electrocution.
So what health issues can hot tubs cause?
Among the health issues they can cause is a phenomenon known as hot tub rash which can result in itchy bumps, a rash or pus-filled blisters. Pseudomonas dermatitis can be avoided by keeping the water in the pool filtered correctly, washing yourself off after each use and not bathing for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Hot tubs also run the risk of causing Legionnaires disease if not properly filtered. The Legionella germ can form in unfiltered water kept for long periods at temperatures between 25C and 45C, the range associated with most hot tubs. Regularly changing and/or filtering the water reduces the risk.
The Legionella germ can cause a severe type of pneumonia if you inhale the steam from contaminated water. Symptoms include muscle pain, chills and headache.
According to the Mayo Clinic, by the second or third day, you might get a cough accompanied with mucus or blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, and confusion. Those who are aged 50 and over, smoke, and have chronic lung conditions are most susceptible to Legionnaires.
Another nasty side effect of an unfiltered hot tub is the presence of faecal matter in the water deposited by users. Each user could deposit a tenth of a gram of faecal matter into the water with each use.
If faecal matter, urine or sweat, mix with chlorine, they can create an irritant called chloramine which can cause coughing and red, irritated eyes. Experts advise you shower before and after using a hot tub to avoid contamination.
E. coli can also spread in pools that are not regularly maintained. E. Coli can cause stomach pain, fever, and diarrhoea if swallowed by a bather. Parasites like crypto and giardia can also be found in contaminated water, even in hot tubs, as they are resistant to chlorine. They too can cause diarrhoea and vomiting in an infected individual.
Other risks associated with hot tubs include scalding which occurs when the water is too hot. Most hot tubs have a maximum temperature setting of 40C but water can become even hotter than this if covered and in high air temperatures. Users should never spend more than 15 minutes in hot tub water.
You should stay hydrated but avoid alcohol while in a hot tub. Those with heart issues are advised not to sit in water at high temperatures.
While filtering the water is one of the most important steps an owner can take to ensure they don't run into issues with disease, it is also important to maintain the equipment itself. System cleaners are available from most manufacturers, as well as replacement filters, chlorine tablets and Ph level testers.
Your hot tub should be maintained at a Ph level between 7.2 and 7.8. Anything below 7.2 indicates that your water is too acidic, which can cause itchiness and eye burn.
The central unit of a hot tub can build up with limescale, chlorine deposits, hair and other materials which may affect the effectiveness of the filtration system. Also, faulty wiring in older or damaged units can cause electrocution if they come in contact with the water. People are warned to ensure their wiring is in good condition and not tampered with beyond the manufacturer's specifications.
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