Have you ever thought about whether that thirsty sensation is not making your mouth drier than it is? It is not a secret that being hydrated is good for our health, yet we may be unaware of the extent of the influence it has on our body. One of such connections is the connection between dehydration and blood pressure.
Our bodies tend to be healthy and try to maintain a fine balance but a little dehydration can trigger a series of events that may be the cause of high blood pressure. This relationship works really effectively and makes sure the body is getting its requirements.
Link Between Dehydration and Your Blood Pressure
When we think of dehydration, an image of thirsty or weary person images in our mind. But the results of not drinking enough water are way more serious, it effects a system that is essential to us.
What Happens When You Don’t Drink Enough Water?
More than 60 percent of our body mass consists of water. This water is a really important component of our blood that is responsible for oxygen and nutrients to all cells. Once we get dehydrated, the overall volume of fluid in our body reduces. This involves a decrease in blood volume. Imagine your blood vessels are a system of pipes.
When fluid available to fill these pipes is less, your body must devise a means of ensuring that blood pressure does not go too low. Here is where the complicated mechanism of the reactions of your body comes in. It is a defense mechanism that is natural and is meant to protect you, yet it may backfire.
The Role of Blood Volume and Vasopressin
Blood volume is the amount of blood that circulates in your body. And when the amount of blood in your body decreases it secrete a hormone called vasopressin. Vasopressin does two things. First, it orders your kidneys to retain water hence you urinate less. Second, and more to the point in this case, it makes your blood vessels narrow and tight.
This constriction is a direct result of augmented opposition to blood flow, which results in an upsurge in blood pressure. It is the body mechanism of ensuring that the pipes are sufficiently pressurized to ensure that the blood flows despite the reduced fluidity.
Signs and Symptoms: Dehydrated and High Blood Pressure
It is possible to learn to see these signs in time and avoid dehydration before it becomes an issue. It is possible to learn these signs and act accordingly to avoid dehydration.
How Do I Know If I’m Dehydrated? The first thing of keeping you healthy is a complete knowledge of symptoms of dehydration. The symptoms may be mild or severe and they may have various effects on your body.
Early Signs:
More Serious Symptoms:
- Excessive thirst
- Little or no urination
- Dizziness or confusion
- Sunken eyes
- Increased heart rate
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
Signs of High Blood Pressure:
- Headaches
- Breathlessness
- Nosebleeds
The Surprising Causes of Dehydration
Many people are stuck on the point that lack of water is the only cause of dehydration,but other factors are also present. Dehydration could occur due to different reasons,which we do on a daily basis.
Not drinking enough fluid
Physical activity and excessive sweating
Drinking pure demineralized (electrolyte-free) water
Excessive caffeine intake
Excessive alcohol consumption
How Dehydration Can Directly Affect Blood Pressure
Dehydration could have a direct and immediate impact on a person’s blood pressure by the two key mechanisms.
1. Constriction of Blood Vessels
When dehydration reduces blood volume, your body compensates by narrowing the blood vessels to maintain pressure. This helps temporarily but can strain the heart and vessels if dehydration continues.
2. Increased Heart Rate
With less fluid in circulation, the heart must pump faster and harder to deliver enough blood to the body. This increased effort can raise blood pressure and stress the cardiovascular system.
Practical Tips for Staying Hydrated
1. Keep a Water Bottle Handy
Carry a reusable water bottle throughout the day as a reminder to drink regularly. Set hourly alarms to take small sips and drink a glass of water before each meal.
2. Make Water More Appealing
Add slices of lemon, lime, or cucumber to improve taste. You can also enjoy sparkling water or herbal teas for variety.
3. Eat Water-Rich Foods
Include fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries, and oranges in your diet to boost hydration naturally.
4. Restore Electrolytes
After exercise or illness replace lost minerals like sodium and potassium with electrolyte drinks.
5. Balance Water and Electrolytes
Plain water and carbonated water may not be enough after heavy sweating or illness. Sports drinks or electrolyte solutions can help maintain fluid balance.
6. Hydration During Illness
When sick with fever, vomiting, bloating, or diarrhea, and during ovulation take small sips of water or an electrolyte solution often. Avoid sugary drinks as they can worsen dehydration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can Dehydration Cause Fever?
Dehydration doesn’t directly cause fever but it can make your body overheat. This may cause your body temperature to rise, especially in hot weather or during exercise.
Q: Is blood pressure low and high at once?
A:.These both could be caused by dehydration. When mild or moderate cases happen the body to low volume and raise blood pressure. But when severe dehydration happens the amount of the blood in the body could be reduced to a much extent,and blood pressure drops to dangerous point.
Q: Can we drink more water at once to be hydrated?
A: A person should drink water all day in portions and should not drink a large amount at once.This may overstrain kidneys and lead to a life threatening but rare condition called water intoxication .
Q: What is the recommended amount of water to take per day to prevent dehydration?
A:. A person should drink 8 glasses of water per day on average but this may change according to activity,age and climate.A really effective rule for checking is to drink water when you feel thirsty and check the color of your urine and it must be light yellow.
Q: Can dehydration affect kidneys and heart?
A: Long term dehydration could be dangerous for kidneys put strain on kidneys and may lead to kidney stones. It could put you at the risk of cardiovascular disease because you have to work under pressure.
Q: When am I dehydrated and feel dizzy?
A: In the state of dehydration ,blood volume is low.Beacuse of gravity blood accumulates on legs,and when a person tries to stand up with less blood,the body is not able to quickly send signals to the brain of standing up,and as a result you feel dizzy.
