Why should you drink enough water to control high blood pressure?

THIỆN NHÂN (THEO ONLYMYHEALTH) |

Drinking enough water helps control high blood pressure by promoting overall heart health, says Dr Pavan Kumar P Rasalkar.

The Role of Water in Managing Heart Health

According to Dr Pavan Kumar P Rasalkar, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru, India, adequate hydration is important for heart health as it helps maintain proper fluid balance in the body, supports normal blood volume and ensures that the heart can pump blood efficiently. In addition, adequate hydration also helps maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and supports the body's ability to control sodium and potassium levels, which can affect blood pressure.

Water helps maintain blood volume and viscosity, which can help regulate blood pressure. Conversely, dehydration can lead to higher blood concentrations, which makes the heart work harder, leading to increased blood pressure.

Signs of high blood pressure

- Severe headache

- Chest pain

- Dizzy

- Shortness of breath

- Nausea

- Blurred vision or other vision changes

- Worry

- Nosebleed

- Palpitations

How much water should you drink?

The recommended amount of water to drink varies from person to person, but a general guideline is to drink about 8 glasses (2 liters) of water per day.

“For people with high blood pressure, staying hydrated is important, but it’s also important to follow your doctor’s advice for health care,” advises Dr. Rasalkar, adding that the amount of water you should drink depends on factors such as age, weight, overall health, and other medical conditions.

Avoid drinking too much water

Drinking too much water can lead to hyponatremia or water intoxication, where the sodium levels in the blood become too diluted, potentially causing dangerous health problems, including affecting cardiovascular function, Dr. Rasalkar added.

Therefore, balancing your water intake and following your doctor's advice is important to safely control high blood pressure.

THIỆN NHÂN (THEO ONLYMYHEALTH)