A hot tub can provide good therapy to an achy body, but it can also cause breathing problems if it has not been carefully maintained.

Relaxing in a warm hot tub feels soothing to the body on a cold winter day, but it could be the cause of breathing problems in some people. Bacteria can grow in water contained in hot tubs says Dr. Akshay Sood, assistant professor of pulmonary medicine at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.

SOUND BITE: ". . . when people sit inside hot tubs and agitate the hot water, by powerful jets of air, it produces bubbles and aerosolizes the microbacteria. And when that aerosol is inhaled into the lung, it sets off an unusual immune reaction within the lung which is called hot tub lung."

Dr. Sood says the symptoms of hot tub lung condition are similar to cold or flu symptoms -- shortness of breath and coughing. Some people have a fever, chills, and aches and pains. When people don't feel well, they tend to use the hot tub more frequently, which increases the problem. He says that those people who do not regularly maintain their hot tubs are at risk for the disease. He suggests these tips for preventing and treating hot tub lung.

SOUND BITE: " . . . keeping the hot tub clean, including changing the water frequently and keeping the filters changed, and also, to make sure you are not dirty when you actually enter the hot tub. The other thing that is important is early diagnosis and treatment."

Anyone who thinks they maybe suffering from hot tub lung should see their family doctor for an evaluation. In most cases the condition can be cured by medication without any permanent damage to the lungs.