Confusion Dizziness Or Lightheadedness
Did you know that your brain is composed of ? Thats why drinking water and eating water-filled foods can help your brain work better. On the flip side, if you dont get enough fluids it can have adverse effects. If youre feeling like you might pass out at any moment, or youre confused over where you are, how you got there or what youre doing, it might mean you are severely dehydrated.
What to do: Dont take symptoms like these lightly. Properly rehydrate by slowing drinking water and eating like cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, strawberries, apples, and grapes. Both options will help replenish your body with the minerals and electrolytes it needs to absorb into the brain and tissues. If youre experiencing severe dehydration with confusion, you should go to the emergency room to be checked out by a healthcare provider.
What Does Water Do For Your Body
Between about 55% to about 78% of your body is made of water. Newborn babies are about 78% water, a year-old baby is 65%, adult men are about 60% and adult women are about 55%. Your brain is made up of 73% water, and so is your heart. Your bones are 31% water, muscles and kidneys are 79% and your skin is 64%. A whopping 83% of water makes up your lungs.
Water helps:
- Aid digestion and get rid of waste.
- Work your joints. Water lubricates them.
- Make saliva .
- Balance your bodys chemicals. Your brain needs it to create hormones and neurotransmitters.
- Deliver oxygen all over your body.
- Cushion your bones.
- Regulate your body temperature.
Act as a shock absorber for your brain, your spinal cord and, if youre pregnant, your fetus.
Water is important to your body, especially in warm weather. It keeps your body from overheating. When you exercise, your muscles generate heat. To keep from burning up, your body needs to get rid of that heat. The main way the body discards heat in warm weather is through sweat. As sweat evaporates, it cools the tissues beneath. Lots of sweating reduces the body’s water level, and this loss of fluid affects normal bodily functions. Drink water!
Are Pulse And Blood Pressure The Same Thing
Nope! Pulse measures your heart rate, while blood pressure measures how forcefully your blood moves through your veins. With pulse, you can even measure it without any kind of monitor or another tool. Pulse is also dependent on your blood pressure. When you exercise, your pulse is supposed to go up. Depending on how often you exercise, it may take a bit for your pulse to return to normal after your workout.
Recommended Reading: What Causes Blood Pressure To Increase
Effect Of Dehydration On Hemoglobin
If a person is severely dehydrated, the hemoglobin will appear higher than the patient with normal blood volume. Also, if the patient’s fluid is overloaded, the hemoglobin range will be lower than their actual level. This is because hemoglobin and hematocrit are based on whole blood volume and therefore are dependent on plasma volume.
What Are The Complications Of Dehydration
Complications of dehydration may occur because of the consequences of dehydration, and/or because of the underlying disease or situation that causes the fluid loss.
Kidney failure
Kidney failure is a common occurrence and often is reversible, if it is due to dehydration and is treated early. As dehydration progresses, the volume of fluid in the body decreases, and blood pressure may fall. This can decrease blood flow to vital organs including the kidneys, and like any organ with a decreased blood flow it has the potential to fail to do its job.
Coma
Shock
When the fluid loss overwhelms the bodys ability to compensate, blood flow and oxygen delivery to the bodys vital organs become inadequate and cell and organ function can begin to fail. If enough organs begin to malfunction, the body itself may fail and death can occur.
Heat-related illnesses and associated complications
Electrolyte abnormalities
It is important to remember that dehydration does not occur quickly, and sometimes it may take hours to slowly correct the fluid deficit and allow the electrolytes to redistribute themselves appropriately in the different spaces in the body. If rehydration is done too slowly, the patient may remain hypotensive and in shock for too long. If done too quickly, water and electrolyte concentrations within organ cells can be negatively affected, causing cells to swell and eventually become damaged.
Also Check: Claritin D High Blood Pressure
Dehydration Heart Rate And Heart Health
Dehydration causes strain on your heart. The amount of blood circulating through your body, or blood volume, decreases when you are dehydrated. To compensate, your heart beats faster, increasing your heart rate and causing you to feel palpitations. Also your blood retains more sodium, making it tougher for it to circulate through your body.
So how much water should you drink to stay hydrated? It really depends on how much your body needs. Some situations where you should drink more water include:
- If you are exercising or doing other physical activities.
- If you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.
- If you are showing signs of dehydration, such as dizziness or weakness.
Please also keep in mind that certain medical conditions may require varying hydration strategies and consult with your physician as required.
Read Also: What Heart Chamber Pushes Blood Through The Aortic Semilunar Valve
Symptoms Of Chronic Dehydration
According to Dr. Dave Carpenter, author of Change Your Water, Change Your Life, the following are 12 of the more common symptoms of chronic dehydration:
Also Check: What Causes Blood Pressure To Drop
Dry Skin That Doesnt Bounce Back When Pinched
Checking the color of your urine is not the only quick test you can perform to determine if youre dehydrated. A persons skin elasticity is also telling. Try this: Pinch the skin on the top of your hand and see what happens. If it moves back slowly, this is an indication that youre mildly to moderately dehydrated. If the skin seems to stick together , this is a sign of severe dehydration.
Like with darker urine, you should increase your water intake and drink fluids if youre experiencing mild to moderate dehydration. While a glass of water is a good go-to, if youve just finished a strenuous workout, you can also try like a sports drink or coconut water. If you are severely dehydrated and your skin tents, you may have to visit a healthcare provider who can help treat dehydration.
What Else Can I Do To Prevent A Stroke
As you get older, youre more susceptible to having a stroke. Even though you cant reverse time, you can exercise the following actions to help you avoid ever having one:
- Take your blood pressure regularly to keep it in check
- Keep your cholesterol level within a healthy range
- Keep your blood sugar low
- Lose weight if youre overweight
- Stay active
- Talk to your doctor about your medications
If for any reason you feel like something isnt right with your body, you should seek professional medical help immediately.
When you come in to see us at Neurology Consultants of Arizona, Dr. Shayya and the rest of our team talk to you about your lifestyle and ways to prevent stroke. We assess your risk and develop a plan of action for you to stay healthy and avoid a stroke from happening.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Shayya, our office today or any time.
Also Check: Does Claritin Cause High Blood Pressure
What Role Do Electrolytes Play In Dehydration And Blood Pressure
Weve discussed the role of water when its part of the blood, but what about the water thats between and in your cells? How does water even get in and out of cells?
Electrolytes help the movement of water in and out of your cells, which require very specific concentrations of electrolytes inside and outside to function normally. The difference in electrolyte concentrations inside and outside of a cell creates what is known as a concentration gradient. Just like gravity forces things from a high point to a low point , salts and sugars in your body move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration. For cells, the outer cell membrane acts as the boundary between areas of high and low concentration, or, put another way, between the inside and outside of the cell. Sometimes, instead of the salt or sugar passing through the cell membrane, its easier for water to move in or out of the cell: out of the cell to dilute a higher concentration of electrolytes outside of the cell, or into the cell to increase the concentration of electrolytes outside the cell.
Normally, Potassium is kept at a much higher concentration in the cells than outside, whereas Sodium is kept at much higher concentration outside than inside. Water moves with and in response to these concentrations. This means that electrolytes, by affecting the volume of water in and in between your cells, can have an effect on blood pressure.
What Happens To Your Body When It Dehydrates
If youre feeling thirsty, your body is likely already dehydrated. Why is this the case? Because your thirst mechanism lags behind your actual level of hydration.
Losing body water without replacing it results in your blood becoming more concentrated. This causes your heart rate to increase to maintain your blood pressure, and it triggers your kidneys to retain water .
Less water in your system also hinders your bodys ability to regulate your temperature, which can lead to hyperthermia, or a body temperature thats well above normal. And because fluid levels in the brain lower, they affect your mood, memory and coordination.
Don’t Miss: Low Blood Pressure Heart Problems
Your Blood Pressure Is Irregular
Fifty-five percent of your blood is liquid, which means if you are dehydrated, your blood volume could decrease. Why does that matter? Your blood pressure. In fact, the American Heart Association lists a cause of low blood pressure as dehydration. This could lead to dizziness and even fainting.
But it’s not just low blood pressure that can occur. Dehydration could also lead to the opposite: hypertension, which is caused by high blood pressure. When cells need water, the brain can step in and send a message to constrict the blood vessels. This is what leads to the high blood pressure.
How Do I Prevent Dehydration
Exactly how much water do you need? That depends on your weight, age, level of activity, age, the climate of your environment and other factors. Those with diabetes, heart disease, cystic fibrosis and other conditions may need to be cautious. The amount of water you need can also depend on the climate and what clothes youre wearing. Although the standard advice is eight glasses of water per day , talk to your healthcare provider to confirm the right amount for you.
Keep track of how much fluid you drink. Drink water throughout the day, including at meals. Avoid soda, alcohol and caffeinated drinks. One way to make sure you are properly hydrated is to check your urine. If its clear, pale or straw-colored, its OK. If its darker than that, keep drinking!
To avoid dehydration, active people people playing a sport or exercising should drink at least 16 to 20 ounces of fluids one to two hours before an outdoor activity. After that, you should consume six to 12 ounces of fluid every 10 to 15 minutes when youre outside. When you are finished with the activity, you should drink more. How much more? To replace what you have lost: at least another 16 to 24 ounces.
Also Check: How To Calculate Target Heart Rate Zone
Recommended Reading: Claritan Blood Pressure
Healthy Blood Pressure Levels
Normal blood pressure levels shouldn’t be any higher than a systolic number of 120 and a diastolic number of 80. It should not be any lower than a systolic number of 90 and a diastolic number of 60.
There may be several reasons why your blood pressure is too low. Many people simply have a lower blood pressure than others. But always get any abnormal numbers checked by a medical professional.
There are also different levels of blood pressure with different severities:
- Normal: Typically equal to or below 120/80
- Elevated: Typically between 121-129/80
- Hypertension Stage 1: Anything equal to or greater than 130/80
- Hypertension Stage 2: Anything equal to or slightly below 140/90
- Hypertensive Crisis: Anything greater than 140/90
If you notice that your blood pressure is elevated, its time to go see your physician get their opinion on what could be causing it. Also, consider your familys medical history. Is it typical for someone in your immediate family to have blood pressure problems? Are there other conditions that run in your family that have high blood pressure as a symptom?
If your blood pressure is beyond Hypertension Stage 2, dont wait for a regular checkup to get it checked out. Especially when paired with other concerning symptoms such as lightheadedness, confusion, or pain on one side of the body, its best to call emergency services right at that moment.
Whats The Best Hydration Drink
Now knowing that high blood pressure is a dehydration symptom, you may be wondering, Whats the best hydration drink? Given all the advertising you probably see for sports drinks and electrolyte drinks, you may be surprised to learn that they might not be the best way to replenish electrolytes and maintain a proper body temperature.
Many sports drinks and electrolyte drinks have more grams of sugar than is healthy, especially if you drink a large quantity of them. Natural spring water, on the other hand, is completely sugar-free, of course. Drinking spring water also helps your body achieve the right balance of electrolytes.
Recommended Reading: Can I Calibrate My Omron Blood Pressure Machine
Does Water Increase Red Blood Cells
Drinking water promotes healthy blood flow and reduces the chance of our red blood cells sickling and sticking together. It keeps our blood cells supple so they can move more freely within our blood vessels. If we dont drink enough water, our blood cells become stickier and struggle to move through the body.
How Does A Stroke Happen
When youre healthy, your blood carries nutrients and oxygen to your brain freely, without any disruption. If the flow of your blood vessels gets blocked by a clot or if the vessel ruptures, your brain cant get the blood it needs, which causes your brain cells to die. The outcome of a stroke depends on the region of your brain that is affected.
Read Also: Claritin Raise Blood Pressure
Limitations And Methodological Considerations
In this study, we did not directly measure venous blood flow toward the heart or right heart volume and function to exclude alterations in pulmonary hemodynamics as a factor influencing the SV and . To estimate venous return response, we obtained peripheral beat volume as calculated previously based on an assumption that it tracks changes in the amount of venous blood volume moving each cardiac cycle under steady-state condition. Our interpretation of the venous return response was based not only on this index but also on the echocardiographic data and thus our conclusion about venous return remains intact. Moreover, this notion is consistent our direct measurements of exercising leg blood flow in the femoral vein with thermodilution . Nevertheless, it would be important to follow up with specific venous flow measurements to confirm the present observations.
Water Content In The Diet
Although drinking water can lower blood pressure, so can a diet high in fruit and vegetables. That is because many vegetables and fruit are mostly made of water.
A diet high in processed foods full of salt and sugar will increase your blood pressure. However, a diet rich in vegetables and fruit will lower your blood pressure. You will want to get organic fruit and vegetables when available, which are free from pesticides.
Also Check: Claritin And High Blood Pressure Medications
How Are Dehydration And Blood Pressure Related
This can be tricky to understand, so lets break this down: Imagine your heart is a pump that works to circulate your blood around your body. When youre healthy and properly hydrated, your heart pumps with a certain amount of force to move blood around your body. If youre dehydrated, the volume of blood decreases, so the pump has to work harder to get the same amount of blood to organs and tissues as it is used to. If you’re over-hydrated, and your body has a larger volume of blood than normal, your heart will begin to pump with less force. So, if youre dehydrated , your heart rate increase. If youre over-hydrated , your heart rate decreases.
For the first litre of fluid you lose as you become dehydrated, blood vessels can constrict and become narrower to counter the change in volume and maintain blood pressure . If more than 1L is lost, your blood pressure starts to fall directly in proportion to the degree of your dehydration . You may feel your heart beating fast to try to stop this, but even though your heart is beating faster, less blood is pushed out per heartbeat, and your blood pressure decreases .
Are you concerned about your own hydration levels? Take the quiz below to find the best Hydrant for your hydration routine.