Does Drinking More Water Help Your Blood Pressure?
Hydration and blood pressure are closely linked. After all, your blood is made up mostly of water. “When you’re dehydrated, your blood volume and blood pressure decrease,” says Jacinta Anyaoku, M.D., DABOM. But not necessarily in a healthy way.
“When this happens, your body tries to compensate by constricting your blood vessels and retaining sodium to bring your blood pressure back up,” explains Anyaoku. Over time, repeated or chronic dehydrationmay place extra strain on the cardiovascular system and make it harder to maintain healthy blood pressure.2
On the flip side, staying adequately hydrated can help keep blood pressure levels healthy, as hydration can help your body maintain normal blood volume and support healthy circulation. Exactly how drinking more water affects your blood pressure depends on your hydration status and whether you’re experiencing dehydration, a temporary change in blood pressure or chronic hypertension.
Excerpted from Eating Well
