Drinking water can help support healthy blood pressure, but it doesnt usually lower it unless youre dehydrated.
When you’re dehydrated, the balance of important minerals in your bodycalledelectrolytesgets thrown off.
Electrolytes like sodium help muscles contract and regulate the movement of fluids in and out of your cells.
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Even mild changes in sodium levels can have noticeable effects.
When dehydrated, there’s less water in your bloodstream, so sodium becomes more concentrated.
This increase in sodium triggers the release ofvasopressin, a hormone that helps your body hold on to water.
With hypovolemia, blood vessels lose tension because there’s not enough fluid in them.
If fluids arent replaced quickly, the body can go intoshock, where the organs dont get enough oxygen.
This can lead to failure of multiple organs.
Hypovolemia and dehydration are related but not the same.
People with hypovolemia usually need emergency care in an intensive care unit (ICU).
Can Hydration Help Lower Blood Pressure?
Staying well hydrated can help prevent temporary spikes in blood pressure.
However, drinking water is not a treatment for high blood pressure.
In fact, drinking too much water can sometimes raise your blood pressure.
Severe hypervolemia can cause:
Drinking a lot of water won’t usually cause symptoms this extreme.
For most people, this effect is short-term and not dangerous.
How Much Water Should I Drink?
Most experts suggest drinking six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily, in addition to water from food.
As a guideline, the National Institute of Sciences recommends:
Everyones needs are different.
Other Drinks That May Help
Some drinks besides water may help people with high blood pressure.
But water alone isnt enoughlifestyle habits matter, too.
If you are dehydrated, it can also help lower blood pressure.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.What does blood do?.
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