Fall Related Statistics in the Bathroom
Fall-related death rates for men and women 65 years and older increased significantly from 1993 to 2003, according to a report released today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
In 2003, more than 13,700 older adults died from falls, making them the leading cause of injury deaths among people 65 and older. From 1993 to 2003 fatal falls increased by more than 55 percent - with more men (46.2 percent) dying from falls than women (31.1 percent). The report also indicates that in 2003 almost 1.8 million seniors were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls and more than 460,000 were hospitalized. In 2000, the direct medical costs for falls among older adults were approximately $19 billion.
"Fall death rates have increased faster than fall injury rates. In large part, this is because people are living longer, and many of our seniors now are older and frailer. They need our help to prevent potentially fatal fall injuries," said Dr. Judy Stevens, an epidemiologist in CDC's Injury Center and author of the report.
Hydromassage Benefits
of a Walk In Bathtub
There are three factors at work in a spa: heat, buoyancy and massage. Together, they create a relaxing, soothing experience. Immersion in hot water raises the body temperature and causes the blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation. The buoyancy of the water reduces body weight by approximately 90%, which relieves pressure on joints and muscles and creates the relaxing sensation of weightlessness.
The massaging action of a spa is created by sending a mixture of warm water and air through jet nozzles. This "energized" stream of water loosens tight muscles and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers.
Of course, a spa offers much more than just a good hydromassage. It can also be good for your health. Research shows that both the body and mind benefit from the simple act of immersion in warm water.
Benefits for Arthritis with a Walk In Bathtub
One in three Americans (about 70 million people) has some form of arthritis. Although there are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, most are characterized by inflammation of the joints which causes swelling, pain and stiffness, often resulting in loss of joint movement or function.
Many people affected by arthritis seek relief by soaking in the warm, soothing waters of a spa. A walk in bathtub can provide the warmth, massage and buoyancy needed to both relax and exercise joints and muscles in the convenience and comfort of your own backyard. Relaxed muscles create an overall feeling of comfort which can then make it easier to perform exercises and carry out daily tasks.
If you know someone who is affected by the pain and discomfort of arthritis, a spa may bring the relief they need. A walk in bathtub spa is the ultimate way to soothe stiff, sore muscles and joints through state-of-the-art hydromassage.
Walk In Bathtubs Benefit Sleep
Sure, spas help ease muscle and joint pain. But did you know they can help you get a good night's sleep as well? According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 132 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders including mild to chronic insomnia, pauses in breathing and snoring. The poll found that 48% of women and 38% of men suffer from insomnia more than one night a week. This number is on the rise as evidenced by the growing number of sleep disorder centers across the nation (approximately 3,000 in the U.S. today). According to a sleep therapy center in Louisville, KY, insomnia is the second most prevalent reason people go to the doctor (after pain).
Sleep researchers believe that many cases of insomnia can be traced to hectic, stressful lifestyles lived by basically healthy people. The results of sleep deprivation are varied and may cause battered nerves, grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and erratic mood swings.
So how can you help your body enter a deep sleep? According to a recent study in the scientific journal Sleep, a drop in body temperature can help to ease your body into a deeper, more relaxing sleep. Therefore it is suggested that you soak in very hot water (103° F) approximately 90 minutes before bedtime. This causes the body's internal thermostat to pull your temperature down, enabling sleep to set in with more ease. An ideal way to achieve this is to take a 15-minute soak in a spa.
This therapeutic use of warm water is called hydromassage. The beauty of a spa-induced sleep is that it is a natural remedy, unlike alternative sleeping aids such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies and alcohol-all of which can make you feel groggy and have other adverse side effects.
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