Beyond just making you feel bad, being dehydrated can have a variety of negative side effects. But, can dehydration cause high blood pressure or not?
Dehydration is when your body loses more fluids and electrolytes than you’re taking in. If you don’t drink enough water or if you lose more fluids by sweating, urinating, or other means than you take in, you could get dehydrated.
It can be extremely dangerous, especially if you experience prolonged dehydration. Dehydration has a variety of effects on how your body operates regularly, including headaches, dizziness, and changes in blood pressure.
What Is Dehydration?
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than the amount of fluid it gains. In addition to fluid loss, essential electrolytes, carbohydrates, and salt can frequently also be lost. As a result, the body has less water at its available to perform its normal functions.
Causes of Dehydration
When you lose fluids more quickly than you can replace them, dehydration results. Dehydration is frequently the result of insufficient water intake. Older adults usually have less water in their bodies, which increases the likelihood that they may become dehydrated.
Here are some other causes of dehydration you may experience:
Diarrhea
Significant body fluid loss can result from diarrhea. Food passes through the digestive system more quickly when someone has diarrhea, and water isn’t absorbed when it gets to the large intestine. Dehydration results from excreting this water with fecal matter.
Sweating
When it’s hot outside you’re exercising, you sweat a lot and lose a lot of water. Dehydration can result from not drinking enough water after a long day of high sweating. Moreover, due to higher respiratory losses in extremely cold settings, fluids might be lost without sweating.
Vomiting
Vomiting causes a quick loss of body fluids and minerals, similar to diarrhea. People may find it more difficult to swallow water when they are nauseous or vomiting, which puts them at severe risk of dehydration.
Frequent urination
Drink more water if you find that you’re peeing more frequently to avoid dehydration. Diuretics, some blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and antipsychotics can all cause frequent urination. Diabetes that is not under control may also be the cause.
Fever
Your body tries to cool itself when you have a fever by perspiring, which causes fluid loss in the body. You may become dehydrated if you don’t drink enough water to make up for what you lose.
Symptoms of Dehydration
There’s a high chance that you’re dehydrated if you don’t drink any water for a long and then find that you’re suddenly thirsty or that you don’t need to urinate as often. But keep in mind that dehydration doesn’t always result in thirst.
This is why you shouldn’t always wait until you’re thirsty before drinking that glass of water, especially if you’re an older adult.
Other symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration include the following:
- Dry mouth.
- Headache.
- Muscle weakness.
- Dry skin.
- Reduced tear production.
- Constipation.
- Dizziness.
- Lethargy.
As dehydration progresses, the symptoms become even more serious. Here are some of the symptoms of severe dehydration include
- Lack of sweating.
- Severe headache.
- Sunken eyes.
- Shriveled skin.
- Excessive thirst.
- Quickened heart rate.
- Very dark urine.
- Rapid breathing.
- Low blood pressure.
- Shock.
Babies are unable to communicate verbally, thus they cannot let you know if they feel dehydrated. Children should be on the lookout for the following symptoms of dehydration:
- Dry mouth.
- Cry but have no tears.
- After three or more hours, dry diapers.
- Sunken cheeks.
- Irritability.
Can Dehydration Affect Your Blood Pressure?
Is there any connection between dehydration and blood pressure? The force your blood applies to the artery and vein walls is known as blood pressure. Your blood pressure may increase or fall as a result of dehydration.
Does Dehydration Cause High Blood Pressure?
An increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure is referred to as having high blood pressure. Dehydration has been linked to higher blood pressure in studies, and a rat study found that chronic dehydration worsens hypertension.
Your blood contains more sodium when you’re dehydrated, and as a result, the brain signals the pituitary gland to release vasopressin. Vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is essential for maintaining the body’s osmotic balance as well as for regulating blood pressure, odium regulation, and kidney function.
Vasopressin tells the kidneys to reabsorb more water, and when it is released in sufficient quantities, it causes vasoconstriction, which increases blood pressure. Try your best to stay consistently hydrated if you have hypertension to prevent blood pressure increases.
What Else Could Cause High Blood Pressure?
Numerous factors, including dehydration, can increase your risk of hypertension, these consist of
- Consuming a salt-rich diet.
- Carrying too much weight.
- Exercising insufficiently.
- Excessive use of alcohol or use of caffeine.
- Smoking
- Getting too little sleep or frequently having sleep disturbances.
High blood pressure can also result from a number of medical conditions, these consist of
- Kidney disease and infections.
- Diabetes.
- Obstructive sleep apnea.
- Lupus.
- Scleroderma.
Dehydration And Low Blood Pressure
Dehydration can result in low blood pressure by lowering your blood volume. Low blood pressure is defined as having a systolic and diastolic reading of less than 90 and 60 millimeters of mercury, respectively.
The total amount of fluid that is continuously flowing through your arteries, veins, capillaries, and heart chambers is known as your blood volume.
Your blood volume is affected by the amount of fluid you eat. Dehydration causes your blood volume to reduce.
In addition to not drinking enough fluids, blood volume loss (due to injury or donation) and excessive sweating during exercise can also result in hypovolemia.
Low blood pressure results from reduced blood pressure, which is caused by reduced blood volume. Low blood pressure might make you feel weak, fatigued, and woozy. Severe low blood pressure situations can lead to shock, which requires hospital treatment in a hospital or potentially result in death.
When To Get Medical Attention
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should visit a doctor right away:
- Longer than 24-hour-long diarrhea.
- Inability to keep fluids down.
- A rapid heart rate.
- Extreme confusion, disorientation, or exhaustion.
- Black or bloody stools.
For Low Blood Pressure
Without any additional symptoms, a reading of blood pressure that is lower than usual might not be a cause for alarm.
However, it’s important to get medical attention if you have low blood pressure readings along with other symptoms. Here are the symptoms to look out for include:
- Dizziness or a feeling of being lightheaded
- Nausea.
- Feeling tired or fatigued.
- Blurry vision.
Shock is a medical emergency that needs immediate attention. Call 911 if you have symptoms of low blood pressure, such as
- Skin that’s clammy or cold.
- Quick, shallow breathing.
- A rapid and weak pulse.
- Confusion.
For High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure typically has no symptoms. Most people learn about it when they contact their doctor for a check-up.
If you regularly check your blood pressure and find that it is consistently high, speak with your doctor.
How Is Dehydration Diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine any symptoms you have in order to rule out other conditions before beginning any tests. Your doctor will review your medical history before checking your vital signs for dehydration, such as blood pressure and heart rate. Dehydration may be indicated by low blood pressure and an elevated heart rate.
Your electrolyte level may be checked by your doctor via a blood test, which can assist identify fluid loss. You may measure your body’s creatinine level using a blood test. This aids your doctor in assessing the state of your kidneys, a sign of how dehydrated you are.
A urinalysis is a test that examines a urine sample to look for germs and electrolyte loss. When combined with other symptoms, the color of your urine might also be a sign of dehydration. Dehydration cannot be detected by dark urine alone.
How Much Water Per Day Should You Drink?
To avoid becoming dehydrated, make sure you drink enough fluids daily. How much water or other fluids should you drink each day, though?
The amount of fluid you should drink each day might vary depending on a number of things, including
- Age.
- Sex.
- Weight.
- Your overall health.
- Weather conditions.
- Activity level.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Drinking at least eight glasses of water each day is a healthy goal to strive towards. If drinking plain water is hard for you, you can alternatively remain hydrated by drinking:
- Fruit-infused water, including lemon or cucumber slices,
- Sparkling water without sugar.
- Fruit and vegetable smoothies.
- Herbal tea without caffeine.
- Milk.
- Low sodium soups.
Also keep in mind that some food sources, particularly fruits and vegetables, contain water. Additionally, keep yourself hydrated by following the tips listed below:
- Drink whenever you feel thirsty and need to drink. Your body is attempting to tell you that you need to drink more fluids by making you feel thirsty.
- When you are physically active, in a hot climate, or sick with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, remember to drink more water.
- As you go about your daily activities, keep a water bottle with you. You’ll always have water available to you in that way.
- Instead of alcoholic beverages, sweetened beverages, sugary sodas, and energy drinks, choose water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a lack of water lead to high blood pressure?
Yes, dehydration results from inadequate water intake, and research has shown that this condition increases blood pressure.
How much water should someone with high blood pressure consume?
Don’t overdo it with water consumption; just enough to keep you from feeling thirsty. Young, healthy individuals’ blood pressure is not significantly raised by excess water consumption, while elderly adults and patients with autonomic failure may experience this effect.
Does drinking water affect blood pressure or not?
Does drinking water lower blood pressure or not? It seems unlikely that drinking simple water will lower blood pressure. However, some studies have found that consuming mineral water helps lower blood pressure.
How can I rehydrate fast?
Here are the five greatest ways for swiftly rehydrating if you’re concerned about your or another person’s level of hydration.
- Water.
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Skim and low-fat milk.
- Coffee and tea.
- Oral hydration solutions.
How does dehydration affect blood pressure and pulse?
Your blood volume and blood pressure may become dangerously low if you are dehydrated. Your tissues and organs may not be able to get the nutrients and oxygen they need to remain healthy as a result. Low blood pressure, if untreated, can result in various issues, such as damage to the heart and/or brain.
How much water is in the blood?
8% of your body weight is made up of blood volume. Plasma makes up around 55% of blood, and 90% of it is water. So, even though you only donate slightly less than a pint at a time, almost half of this is water.
Can dehydration cause chest pain or not?
These are not your typical pains; instead, they feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest or as though your heart is about to burst. These are signs of a possible cardiac event brought on by dehydration, and they need to be treated immediately.
Can dehydration cause dizziness or not?
Like high cholesterol cause dizziness, dehydration might make you feel dizzy actually. You might also feel woozy, lightheaded, unsteady, and dizzy when you get this feeling. Vertigo is a particularly specific type of dizziness that you could also experience.
Can dehydration actually cause blood in urine?
Blood in the urine can happen as a result of prolonged or severe dehydration. Any renal conditions that lead to hematuria, such as kidney stones, might be made worse by dehydration.
Does dehydration cause diarrhea or not?
A serious case of acute diarrhea, or diarrhea that appears suddenly and violently, can result in a rapid loss of electrolytes and water. If you have both diarrhea and vomiting, you lose a lot more fluids and minerals.
Can dehydration actually cause kidney pain?
Kidney pain can sometimes be brought on by dehydration (not having enough water in your body). Dehydration can be caused by excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, or certain medical conditions including diabetes.
Can dehydration cause blurred vision or not?
Dehydration can also lead to eye strain signs such as dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and double vision. These symptoms happen when the eye is improperly lubricated. To flush out salt from the body and properly hydrate your eyes to help with eye fatigue, drink plenty of water.
Can dehydration cause fever?
Although it might seem counterintuitive, having a fever or chills could indicate that your body is very dehydrated. Seek immediate medical help if you have a fever since it can be particularly dangerous.
Will high blood pressure really make you tired?
If you’ve had high blood pressure for some time, you may have observed that you sometimes feel tired after little to no effort. Untreated high blood pressure can cause a variety of serious health problems, including those that make you quickly tired.
What are chronic dehydration symptoms?
Chronic dehydration can cause some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Headaches.
- Being unable to focus or concentrate.
- Passing unusually dark urine.
- Tiredness or fatigue.
- Cramps and weak muscles.
- Constipation.
- Flaky, dry skin.
- Altered heart, kidney, or digestive processes.
What happens if you have low blood pressure?
Your body’s vital organs won’t receive enough oxygen and nutrients if your blood pressure falls too low. When this occurs, low blood pressure might cause shock, which requires urgent medical care. Shock symptoms include having a blue skin tone, rapid breathing, cold and sweaty skin, or a weak and rapid pulse.
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The Bottom Line
A long-term lack of fluids might raise blood pressure. Dehydration can reduce blood volume, which can cause the pituitary gland to release vasopressin. The body’s blood vessels will then start to constrict as a result, raising blood pressure when dehydrated.
In addition, smoking, exercise, dietary factors, and a variety of medical problems can all contribute to high blood pressure. It may result in a number of complications, including stroke, kidney disease, and heart problems. The only way to find out if you have it is to get your blood pressure measured since it rarely causes symptoms.
Now you know the answer to the question “Can dehydration cause high blood pressure or not.”Call a doctor right away if you have any concerns about high blood pressure. Your blood pressure can be measured by the doctor, who can also give you advice on any changes in lifestyle you should make. If necessary, they might also recommend medication to address the issue.
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