It goes without saying that for you to be healthy, your heart must be able to move blood (and the life-giving oxygen and nutrients it contains) to all parts of your body effectively. And that requires good vein health.
What are the keys to keeping your blood vessels in good condition? One of them is drinking enough water in a day. That leads to another question of course: How much water should I be drinking daily?
Many factors affect how much water per day is right for you in your environment, but the 8x8 rule is a good start. That means consuming eight 8-ounce glasses of water in a day for proper hydration. To be more exact, you should take your body weight, divide it in half, and that's how many ounces you should be drinking daily.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Vein Health Issue Beyond Varicose Veins
You may be familiar with varicose veins. They’re enlarged veins that can occur anywhere in the body but are common in the legs. They’re typically harmless but can cause discomfort and are not aesthetically pleasing.
A more serious vein health condition is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body, most often in a leg. Clotting is a necessary function that helps stop bleeding when you’re injured, but when a blood clot forms for no reason, that can create health problems.
A DVT blood clot is particularly problematic if it travels to the lungs as what’s called a pulmonary embolism (PE). There, it can block a blood vessel and cause a decrease in blood oxygen level. If that occurs, the lungs and other organs may suffer damage.
Can Dehydration Cause Blood Clots?
People who learn about DVTs often wonder, “Can dehydration cause blood clots?” The answer is yes, they can. If you don’t drink enough water, your blood volume decreases, your blood thickens, and your blood vessels narrow. These conditions increase the likelihood of developing a blood clot.
Another question people ask their doctor is, “Can dehydration cause high blood pressure?” Here again, the answer is yes. The relationship between dehydration and blood pressure is that when you’re dehydrated, your body releases more of a chemical called vasopressin. Among its functions is constricting blood vessels, which increases blood pressure.
So, dehydration increases multiple vein-related health risks. In combination, they could result in your body creating a DVT blood clot and then forcing it into motion as a pulmonary embolism.
The Good News: It’s Easy to Lower Your DVT and PE Risk
If you have risk factors for developing a deep vein thrombosis, your doctor may prescribe medication, which you should take as directed, of course. But you can also help lower your risk by taking one step: Hydrate!
Getting more fluids thins your blood and strengthens the muscles that support your veins. What’s the best way to hydrate? Drinking more water. Water is the most effective of the hydration drinks out there, bar none.
Consuming eight or more glasses of water daily provides several other benefits, like boosting your energy level, improving skin health, and more. Consequently, making it a priority to stay hydrated is a winning strategy in many ways!
Assess Your Hydration and Your Health
Are you seeing signs of dehydration in your blood pressure? Are you aware of the risks of dehydration and blood clots?
Simply increasing the amount of water you consume in a day can improve your vein health and reduce your risk of deep vein thrombosis, high blood pressure, and other health issues. No prescription required!
And when you enjoy our natural spring water, you’re getting electrolyte-balanced water with nothing added—just an award-winning taste that makes each sip a treat!
