Most people know that proper hydration is essential to good health. Unfortunately, while drinking fluids comes naturally at times—like after exercising or in hot weather—your body needs plenty of fluids throughout the day, every day, to prevent dehydration.
So, it’s important to be aware of, and prevent, the health problems caused by dehydration. That includes one you may not be familiar with.
Dehydration and Blood Pressure
A lesser-known fact about drinking water is that there is a link between dehydration and high blood pressure, which is also called hypertension. Specifically, one of the dangers of dehydration is that it can elevate your blood pressure.
This increase occurs for multiple reasons, including that:
- Dehydration causes your blood to be thicker. As a result, more force is required to move it through your blood vessels.
- In response to dehydration, your kidneys release a substance called renin that causes you to retain more water. This is a normal response, but if you are chronically dehydrated, it can lead to high blood pressure.
- Dehydration causes the brain to release a hormone called vasopressin, which causes your blood vessels to narrow. When that occurs, it’s harder for blood to move through them.
So, while you may be aware of other side effects of dehydration like fatigue, lightheadedness, dehydration headache, muscle cramps, and constipation, high blood pressure is another you should keep in mind.
Interestingly, while chronic dehydration can lead to high blood pressure, becoming very dehydrated can lead to low blood pressure. This is because a certain level of blood volume is necessary for proper circulation. If your hydration level drops significantly, and consequently your blood volume crashes as well, your organs may stop getting enough oxygen and you can go into shock.
What’s the Best Hydration Drink?
Now knowing that high blood pressure is a dehydration symptom, you may be wondering, “What’s the best hydration drink?” Given all the advertising you probably see for sports drinks and electrolyte drinks, you may be surprised to learn that they might not be the best way to replenish electrolytes and maintain a proper body temperature.
Many sports drinks and electrolyte drinks have more grams of sugar than is healthy, especially if you drink a large quantity of them. Natural spring water, on the other hand, is completely sugar-free, of course. Drinking spring water also helps your body achieve the right balance of electrolytes.
Hydration and Blood Pressure: Drink Up to Keep Your Blood Pressure Down
When it comes to caring for your body, dehydration is a condition you want to avoid. While the causes of severe dehydration are rare, the cause of chronic hydration—simply not drinking enough water—is common and something you can address today!
Just by drinking more water, you can avoid all the health issues that being dehydrated can cause, including high blood pressure. If you notice the more obvious symptoms of dehydration, simply fill your glass with natural spring water and take your health literally into your own hands.
Better yet, increase your fluid intake before dehydration occurs! Eldorado Natural Spring Water is the best dehydration fix you’ll ever enjoy.
