Does drinking a lot of water lower your blood pressure

• High BP Symptoms
  • What Are Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?
• Causes & Risk Factors
  • What Causes High Blood Pressure?
• How to Check
  • How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?
• Guide
  • Can Drinking Water Lower Blood Pressure? Topic Guide

If blood pressure becomes elevated due to dehydration, it may be possible to help lower it by drinking water. Dehydration causes the blood to have higher than normal levels of sodium.

High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when the force of the blood pumping through the arteries is consistently too high. When this happens, the walls of the arteries are extended beyond their normal limit, often leading to damage and scarring.

• High blood pressure (hypertension) is 140/90 mmHg or more
• Elevated blood pressure levels between 120/80 and 139/89 are considered prehypertension and mean a person is at higher risk for developing high blood pressure
• Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg 

If blood pressure becomes elevated due to dehydration, it may be possible to help lower it by drinking water. Dehydration causes the blood to have higher than normal levels of sodium.

• When this happens, the brain sends signals to the pituitary gland to secrete vasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone.
• The vasopressin tells the kidneys to reabsorb more water, and in high enough concentrations, it can cause narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction), which leads to increased blood pressure. 

One study also found that adding calcium and magnesium to drinking water potentially could help lower blood pressure levels, especially in those who do not get adequate amounts of these minerals from their diets. 

18 Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

The first line of treatment for high blood pressure usually involves lifestyle modifications such as: 

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet low in salt
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Managing stress
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol
• Not smoking
• Getting adequate sleep
• Taking medications as directed

If lifestyle modifications are not enough, medications used to treat high blood pressure may include: 

• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin II antagonists
• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Centrally-acting alpha adrenergics
• Combination medicines
• Diuretics (“water pills”)
• Peripherally acting alpha-adrenergic blockers
• Renin inhibitors
• Vasodilators

What Are Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is often referred to as “the silent killer” because many people who have it don’t have any symptoms. The only one way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have a health professional measure it. 

Severe high blood pressure can in rare cases cause or be accompanied by symptoms such as: 

• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Facial flushing 
• Dizziness 
• Blood spots in the eyes (subconjunctival hemorrhage) 
  • More common in people who also have diabetes 

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

Risk factors for developing high blood pressure (hypertension) include:

• Family history 
• Age 
• Gender 
  • Up to age 64, men are more likely to develop high blood pressure 
  • At age 65 and older, women are more likely to develop high blood pressure 
• Race: African-Americans tend to develop high blood pressure more frequently than people of other races in the U.S.

Risk factors for developing high blood pressure include:

• Unhealthy diet, particularly one high in salt (sodium), calories, saturated and trans fats, and sugar
• Being overweight or obese    
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Excess alcohol intake
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Untreated obstructive sleep apnea 
• Smoking and tobacco use  
• Stress 

How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?

Blood pressure is measured with a pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer).

• The cuff is placed around the upper arm and then manually or electronically inflated.
• When it is inflated the cuff compresses the brachial artery, the major blood vessel of the upper arm, briefly stopping blood flow.
• The air in the cuff is then released slowly while the person performing the measurement listens with a stethoscope or monitors an electronic readout.

Adults 20 years of age and older should have their blood pressure checked during regular doctor visits.

QUESTION

From

Heart Health Resources

Reviewed on 5/25/2022

References

Image Source: iStock Images

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure

https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/high-blood-pressure-medicines-help-you

https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/lower-blood-pressure-quickly/

https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/73/suppl_2/97/1930742?login=false

https://khealth.com/learn/hypertension/can-dehydration-cause-high-blood-pressure/

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/07/could-adding-minerals-to-drinking-water-fight-high-blood-pressure