Can Dehydration Cause High Blood Pressure ?
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By:
Mike
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March 28, 2025
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Key Points
– Dehydration is a state where your body loses excess amount of fluids than it consumes. This leads to deficiency of certain essential fluids and water. Unattended or ignored dehydration can cause various health problems like renal ailments, cardiovascular problems, liver disorders, and so on
– Dehydration decreases your blood volume, and triggers the release of hormones that compress your blood vessels. This increases your blood pressure (hypertension)
– As your body loses the required amount of fluid, blood volume decreases and there is an increase in sodium levels (solutes), resulting in the secretion of Vasopressin (hormone) – otherwise known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH
– Vasoconstriction is the condition that tightens your blood vessels that increases your resistance to blood flow, resulting in increased blood pressure
– Dehydration results in the production of angiotensin, hormone that contracts your blood vessels and raises blood pressure
– You can experience an electrolyte imbalance as well due to dehydration. This can even affect your blood pressure regulation
– If you are diabetic, then you are at a higher risk of dehydration. Dehydration can further worsen your condition due to your diabetes
– Dehydration can make you anxious which is potentially dangerous, as your blood pressure levels excessively shoot up. In worst-case scenarios, you might experience liver complaints, heart complications, renal failure, and even death, etc., which is rare
– Certain medications you take to control your blood pressure often result in more amount of fluid loss in your body, resulting in dehydration
Dehydration reduces your blood volume. Severe dehydration is a condition that releases hormones that compress your blood vessels. During this time, your heart works-hard to pump more blood. This raises your heartbeat and heart rhythm. Overall, this process increases your blood pressure (hypertension).
Moreover, when your body is dehydrated, your kidneys reabsorb water without passing it in urine. Therefore, it results in high concentrations of vasopressin. This condition can also narrow your blood vessels increasing blood pressure. Vasopressin’s (hormone) action on your body due to dehydration can result in an increase in your blood pressure.
If you are hypertensive, dehydration further increases your blood pressure. You may not identify the symptoms soon. It may only be obvious when you experience a sudden and unusual change in your body.
You will also witness an overall stress in your cardiac system, to supply needful blood. Your heart puts its best efforts to pump more – as the available volume of blood reduces. Such stressful action further can elevate your blood pressure.
Dehydration is a condition that requires immediate medical assistance. If left ignored or untreated, symptoms can only worsen and may turn serious. Dehydration can also lead to life-threatening complications. You may face heart-related emergencies or kidney ailments. Additionally, dehydration can cause potential variations in your blood pressure resulting in near-fatal / fatal outcomes.
Dehydration and Blood Pressure
There is a strong association between dehydration and blood pressure level. Both can affect your health badly. Dehydration can decrease or increase your blood pressure, depending on your body’s response to loss of fluids.
Orthostatic Hypotension is a condition you experience through dehydration. It results in a sudden drop of blood pressure when you shift postures. Once you experience this condition, it will take a long time for you to recuperate and become normal.
In the event of dehydration, your body loses plenty of electorates and energy. Moreover, if you have persistently high levels of blood pressure due to other underlying health issues – i.e., not because of dehydration – periodic intake of water helps by keeping you hydrated. However, this is unlikely to offer relief to your blood pressure problem(s).
Does drinking water lower blood pressure?
While drinking water is crucial for your overall health, it is also one of the proven ways to regulate your blood pressure levels. It is however not a complete cure to balance or control your blood pressure. Therefore, consuming water regularly does not directly lower blood pressure, or cause significant changes in your blood pressure level. But staying hydrated can help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels without much worries.
One study revealed that adding magnesium and calcium to your drinking water would potentially help lower your blood pressure levels. Urine samples of participants were tested and researchers concluded people who drank minerals-laced water / fluids had lower blood pressure, despite having higher levels of magnesium and calcium in their system.
As dehydration can lead to thickening of your blood and increase in blood pressure, consuming adequate water is essential to maintain proper fluid balance and also to regulate blood pressure.
Hydration further helps you maintain appropriate blood volume and viscosity, allowing your heart to pump blood more efficiently and freely without strain, which can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.
However, many elders – especially those aged above 60s or 70s – may lose the sense of thirst until they realize they are indeed dehydrated. This causes their blood pressure to rise.
Adequate water in your body can balance your blood pressure levels and prevent you from dehydration. However, if your blood pressure drops for other reasons, then drinking good amount of water can actually raise your blood pressure.
You can drink plenty of water or fluids that will keep you hydrated and cool. Your body should never be left to dry without water. Ample water content is necessary for your system to function well.
Too much of anything is harmful to your health. Therefore, avoid over drinking, especially water, as it is also not a healthy habit. Too much water content in your body might lead to other health issues like hyponatremia or water intoxication.
Hyponatremia is a condition where your blood sodium levels drop drastically. A very low sodium level in your blood results in swelling of the cells and it may even lead to seizure or coma.
Besides staying hydrated, other lifestyle factors like a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management, etc., will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and good-quality health.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9441182/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20860537/
- https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/07/could-adding-minerals-to-drinking-water-fight-high-blood-pressure
- https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-to-drink-when-you-have-high-blood-pressure/
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
Key Points
– Dehydration is a state where your body loses excess amount of fluids than it consumes. This leads to deficiency of certain essential fluids and water. Unattended or ignored dehydration can cause various health problems like renal ailments, cardiovascular problems, liver disorders, and so on
– Dehydration decreases your blood volume, and triggers the release of hormones that compress your blood vessels. This increases your blood pressure (hypertension)
– As your body loses the required amount of fluid, blood volume decreases and there is an increase in sodium levels (solutes), resulting in the secretion of Vasopressin (hormone) – otherwise known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH
– Vasoconstriction is the condition that tightens your blood vessels that increases your resistance to blood flow, resulting in increased blood pressure
– Dehydration results in the production of angiotensin, hormone that contracts your blood vessels and raises blood pressure
– You can experience an electrolyte imbalance as well due to dehydration. This can even affect your blood pressure regulation
– If you are diabetic, then you are at a higher risk of dehydration. Dehydration can further worsen your condition due to your diabetes
– Dehydration can make you anxious which is potentially dangerous, as your blood pressure levels excessively shoot up. In worst-case scenarios, you might experience liver complaints, heart complications, renal failure, and even death, etc., which is rare
– Certain medications you take to control your blood pressure often result in more amount of fluid loss in your body, resulting in dehydration
Dehydration reduces your blood volume. Severe dehydration is a condition that releases hormones that compress your blood vessels. During this time, your heart works-hard to pump more blood. This raises your heartbeat and heart rhythm. Overall, this process increases your blood pressure (hypertension).
Moreover, when your body is dehydrated, your kidneys reabsorb water without passing it in urine. Therefore, it results in high concentrations of vasopressin. This condition can also narrow your blood vessels increasing blood pressure. Vasopressin’s (hormone) action on your body due to dehydration can result in an increase in your blood pressure.
If you are hypertensive, dehydration further increases your blood pressure. You may not identify the symptoms soon. It may only be obvious when you experience a sudden and unusual change in your body.
You will also witness an overall stress in your cardiac system, to supply needful blood. Your heart puts its best efforts to pump more – as the available volume of blood reduces. Such stressful action further can elevate your blood pressure.
Dehydration is a condition that requires immediate medical assistance. If left ignored or untreated, symptoms can only worsen and may turn serious. Dehydration can also lead to life-threatening complications. You may face heart-related emergencies or kidney ailments. Additionally, dehydration can cause potential variations in your blood pressure resulting in near-fatal / fatal outcomes.
Dehydration and Blood Pressure
There is a strong association between dehydration and blood pressure level. Both can affect your health badly. Dehydration can decrease or increase your blood pressure, depending on your body’s response to loss of fluids.
Orthostatic Hypotension is a condition you experience through dehydration. It results in a sudden drop of blood pressure when you shift postures. Once you experience this condition, it will take a long time for you to recuperate and become normal.
In the event of dehydration, your body loses plenty of electorates and energy. Moreover, if you have persistently high levels of blood pressure due to other underlying health issues – i.e., not because of dehydration – periodic intake of water helps by keeping you hydrated. However, this is unlikely to offer relief to your blood pressure problem(s).
Does drinking water lower blood pressure?
While drinking water is crucial for your overall health, it is also one of the proven ways to regulate your blood pressure levels. It is however not a complete cure to balance or control your blood pressure. Therefore, consuming water regularly does not directly lower blood pressure, or cause significant changes in your blood pressure level. But staying hydrated can help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels without much worries.
One study revealed that adding magnesium and calcium to your drinking water would potentially help lower your blood pressure levels. Urine samples of participants were tested and researchers concluded people who drank minerals-laced water / fluids had lower blood pressure, despite having higher levels of magnesium and calcium in their system.
As dehydration can lead to thickening of your blood and increase in blood pressure, consuming adequate water is essential to maintain proper fluid balance and also to regulate blood pressure.
Hydration further helps you maintain appropriate blood volume and viscosity, allowing your heart to pump blood more efficiently and freely without strain, which can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.
However, many elders – especially those aged above 60s or 70s – may lose the sense of thirst until they realize they are indeed dehydrated. This causes their blood pressure to rise.
Adequate water in your body can balance your blood pressure levels and prevent you from dehydration. However, if your blood pressure drops for other reasons, then drinking good amount of water can actually raise your blood pressure.
You can drink plenty of water or fluids that will keep you hydrated and cool. Your body should never be left to dry without water. Ample water content is necessary for your system to function well.
Too much of anything is harmful to your health. Therefore, avoid over drinking, especially water, as it is also not a healthy habit. Too much water content in your body might lead to other health issues like hyponatremia or water intoxication.
Hyponatremia is a condition where your blood sodium levels drop drastically. A very low sodium level in your blood results in swelling of the cells and it may even lead to seizure or coma.
Besides staying hydrated, other lifestyle factors like a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management, etc., will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and good-quality health.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9441182/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20860537/
- https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/07/could-adding-minerals-to-drinking-water-fight-high-blood-pressure
- https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-to-drink-when-you-have-high-blood-pressure/
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
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