Maybe we are all just dehydrated?
Written by Susan Bouet
I am not suggesting that being dehydrated is the cause of everything our bodies are experiencing these days. Nor am I saying that drinking water is the answer to it all. (This is Susan by the way.) We know, there are medical conditions and certain medications that can cause the same symptoms of dehyration that we talk about below and, it's worth trying more water too.
Water, it is a natural and FREE thing to try. So why not look into it? And given everything that I have learned over my years living in the desert, water always helps, even if you end up having to pee a lot more often.
The reason I decided to write this now is because of a recent experience. Early one day, I felt my heart racing a bit and since I hadn’t had any caffeine (the typical cause), I wondered what was going on.
In the back of my mind, I was thinking…Oh great, I have officially gotten old and now I’m going to need blood pressure medicine. So, I pulled out the home blood pressure cuff I bought during the pandemic and tested my BP.
My blood pressure was higher than normal, but not terrible.
I went down the path of looking for natural remedies for an elevated blood pressure. But then I thought… I was in the desert the previous weekend and I already knew I was dehydrated, so I also looked for a link between dehydration and high blood pressure, while at the same time drinking water and watching my blood pressure go down.
Since I grew up when drinking a bunch of water wasn’t really a thing, I have never developed a good water habit. Now, I would have to say, it is more like a struggle.
I found all this wonderful knowledge about water and our health that I can now share with you while looking around at what the experts have to say about it.
Parts of this information may be new to you and some may be old hat or more likely, some of both. Either way, it certainly bears saying and even repeating. I found that knowing more was motivating for REALLY taking on that perpetual state of dehydration I find myself battling. It felt like I had found the keys to the kingdom. See what you see.
Had/Have any of these symptoms?
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Dizziness, Confusion
- Rapid heartbeat
- Your fingerprint doesn’t work to unlock your phone
- Urinary tract infections, kidney stones
- Muscle Cramps
- Flushed Skin, Swollen feet
- Facial and other wrinkles
- Dry mouth and/or a dry cough
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite but craving sugar
All these symptoms can be caused and/or made worse by being dehydrated. A strong effort to drink more water seems like a no brainer.
Why more water...
We have all heard we should drink a lot of water. The confusion starts when the experts don’t always agree on the amount or the source… does it have to be only from water or can it also come from fruits and vegetables or other drinks?
Here's what we do know. Up to 78% of our body is made of water. Our brain is made up of 73% water, and so is our heart. Our bones are 31% water, our muscles and kidneys are 79%, and our skin is 64%. The lungs have the highest percentage at 83%.
Since water is everywhere in our bodies in high percentages, it stands to reason that some systems may falter or fail if dehydrated.
Here's how it helps...
- Aids digestion and gets rid of waste
- Lubricates your joints
- Makes saliva
- Balances chemicals, creates hormones and neurotransmitters
- Delivers oxygen all over your body
- Cushions your bones
- Regulates your body temperature
- It's a shock absorber for the brain, spinal cord (and fetus if you are pregnant)
Left untreated, severe dehydration can be fatal.
But does dehydration cause high blood pressure?
Yes and no! Studies show that dehydration can actually make our blood pressure drop to dangerously low levels. Our body goes right to work to try to correct it and may actually overcorrect and make our blood pressure skyrocket.
Who knew?
The moral of this story is so simple it may be overlooked... drink lots of water and eat water rich fruits (one is even called watermelon after all), and eat veggies high in water content are all good for your health.
The information shared here comes from 2 sources, The Mayo Clinic and The Cleveland Clinic.
