Hypertension is the name given to high blood pressure in a person who has problems with the cardiovascular system.
Water for hypertension is the main factor that often provokes changes in blood pressure, and therefore should be taken into account.
To protect yourself and improve your condition, you need to study when water raises pressure, increases or decreases indicators in principle.
Water shortage, consequences
Every person should know how much water per day they can drink in the absence of health problems and hypertension. The human body is naturally 55% water.
Moreover, in the process of normal life, its processing occurs first.
A person’s task is to constantly replenish the existing volumes (for which it is important to know how much water to drink during hypertension and to avoid the development of hypertension).
Maintaining water balance in the body is a person’s good health, which is manifested by the absence of severe shortness of breath after physical exertion and fatigue from mental work; this is healthy skin.
If the body lacks 1% fluid, a person begins to feel thirsty. More serious deficiencies are manifested by the following problems:
- the skin begins to peel off, dryness appears;
- the body begins to retain sodium in the body to replenish the water balance (therefore, the person experiences an increase in blood pressure);
- there is a disruption in the functioning of internal organs, which is explained by the closure of capillaries.
The lack of a sufficient amount of fluid in the body is a narrowing of blood vessels, which is fraught with thickening of the blood, an increase in blood pressure, and the development of thrombophlebitis.
Why is it important?
Hypertension is a fairly common and dangerous disease. As a result of various reasons, the lumens of blood vessels and capillaries narrow, resulting in hypertension. In medical practice, this term is usually used to describe an increase in a person’s blood pressure above normal, which is 120/80 mm Hg. Art. The disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- headaches, heart pain;
- dizziness, nausea, vomiting;
- sweating, redness, shortness of breath;
- weakness, malaise, loss of strength;
- decreased hearing and vision and much more.
During this period, experts unanimously insist that sufficient fluid intake in the form of clean water is a vital condition. Why is it so important to drink water? The fact is that for our body it is as important a component as air, but many people do not understand this. Drinking liquid has the following effects on the human body:
- ensures good functioning of the entire circulatory system;
- improves metabolic processes;
- removes toxins and waste naturally;
- promotes rejuvenation of all organs;
- helps eliminate harmful microorganisms;
- improves digestive processes;
- rejuvenates skin cells.
This is only a small percentage of the benefits that sufficient consumption of life-giving moisture has on our body.
If you have hypertension, you need to drink water, and its proper use ensures improved well-being and lower blood pressure. Thanks to a water diet, the walls of blood vessels and capillaries are cleansed, the functioning of the heart improves, and the composition of the blood improves, as harmful components are removed from it. For people with hypertension, water is essential.
Important! The amount of water consumed must be agreed with the attending physician.
Which water should you drink and which should you avoid?
The question of whether you can drink a lot of water with high or low blood pressure is considered by some to be not so important. It is recommended to pay more attention to the quality of the liquid.
Doctors dictate the following rules for drinking fluids:
- It is not recommended to introduce ice water into your diet - it has a negative effect on the kidneys and stomach;
- the temperature of the drinks should be from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius - it turns out that this temperature is slightly below room temperature;
- unsalted mineral drinks without carbon are recommended;
- it is necessary to abandon tap and boiled water - the first type of liquid has insufficient purification, and the second is of no use;
- it is better to give preference to filtered water - purified at home or purchased in a store;
- you can drink melt water prepared at home - such liquid, after thawing, loses harmful impurities and acquires beneficial properties;
- It is recommended to add a teaspoon of lemon juice to a glass of water.
It is not recommended to drink tea and coffee so as not to provoke an increase in blood pressure. If you have hypertension, it is better to give preference to green tea.
How to purify water at home?
There are several ways to purify water yourself. Such options are suitable for people who do not have the opportunity to buy a filter or constantly purchase it in the store. Next, we’ll look at several cleansing methods that you can easily do at home.
Freezing
Pour water into a bowl and place it in the freezer. After the water has completely hardened, you need to take it out. Proponents of this method believe that all the negative components contained in the water will be located strictly in the center after freezing. In order to remove them, the ice is placed under a stream of hot water so that it hits the center. This way, harmful substances will simply be washed away and you will get clean water after the ice has completely melted.
Cleansing with silver
Our ancestors also noticed the amazing ability of silver to purify water. The liquid that was stored in containers made of this metal was preserved for a long time and acquired a pleasant taste. Nowadays, this method of cleansing is also widely used. Both silverware and jewelry elements (rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants) are suitable for this. In order to purify water, you should simply immerse an item of silver, previously cleaned with soda, in it for a day. After 24 hours you will receive clear liquid.
Silicon cleaning
Another popular method is stone cleaning. The best option would be silicon cleaning. In addition to combating harmful components, this mineral is able to saturate water with beneficial substances. By putting a stone in water for a day, you will get a drink of excellent quality.
Whichever method you choose, remember that sufficient fluid intake will help you cope with many problems and give you excellent health for many years.
Possible mistakes when treating hypertension
Most patients wonder whether it is possible to drink water with high blood pressure, since doctors say that with an increase in fluid in the body, blood pressure also increases.
Such a statement is a true statement, but requires clarification: this means water in human fat cells.
In other words, if you are overweight, the question of whether you can drink a lot of water with high blood pressure, in this case, is approached thoroughly and does not try to drink liquid in large quantities.
Otherwise, you can only harm yourself.
In other cases, the answer to whether water increases or decreases pressure can be categorical: the liquid can lower the readings.
Therefore, if blood pressure increases, the patient is recommended to drink a glass of clean liquid with lemon juice in small sips.
One of the typical mistakes that patients make is an absolute refusal of fluids. This is wrong and can only make the situation worse.
The importance of water for the human body
Every person’s body must have enough water to:
- supply nutrition and flush out toxins;
- participate in the conversion of food into energy;
- maintain the amount of blood and its astringent properties;
- control cholesterol deposits;
- regulate blood pressure;
- maintain optimal human body temperature;
- maintain the volume of fluid inside the joints, preventing the development of arthritis and joint pain;
- maintain the required amount of fluid inside the brain, regulate thought processes and coordination of movements;
- ensure normal kidney function.
Water is one of the most powerful diuretics, which stimulates the formation of urine and leads to frequent urination.
Drinking water can help relieve headaches, digestive problems, improve elasticity, and give dry skin a youthful appearance.
Video: “Water and drinking regime: importance for the body”
General rules for water consumption
When treating hypertension, it is important to decide how much water you can drink per day, as well as to master the basic rules for its use.
The main recommendations include the following:
- Liquids should be drunk as needed (as soon as a person feels thirsty).
- If the patient also has diseases leading to heart and kidney failure, it is better to avoid large amounts of fluid.
- Water leads to the need to pump a large amount of blood, which wears out the heart muscle and puts additional stress on the kidneys.
- Although water lowers blood pressure, it does not only increase the risk of edema.
- Reduced blood pressure also often provokes swelling of the legs and fingers.
- If a patient has such problems, he should urgently reduce the amount of fluid consumed. If there is no positive effect, consult a doctor.
- It is important to choose the right liquid - during the day you can drink juice, tea, and eat soups (they also have a positive effect on the condition of internal organs).
- It is impossible to give preference only to mineral water - variety in the diet is required.
- Drinks are an incomplete meal.
As mentioned above, coffee and tea affect blood pressure and increase levels. They are recommended to be consumed in small quantities if you are predisposed to surges in blood pressure.
Soups are prepared without pepper and other hot spices - they increase blood pressure levels.
How to influence this system?
There are drugs that affect the RAAS and blood pressure regulation. For hypertension, beta blockers or ACE inhibitors are used. Beta blockers inhibit the release of renin, and ACEIs inhibit the formation of angiotensin II. In both cases, this leads to a decrease in blood pressure,
Reducing the harmful effects of prolonged AT II stimulation is achieved by direct ACE inhibition or direct AT receptor antagonism. There is evidence to support the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors in reducing adverse clinical outcomes after MI.
Other studies have demonstrated that ACEIs, compared with placebo, reduce left ventricular (LV) volumes, slow the progression of LV dilatation, and increase systolic function. This partly explains their clinical effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular events after MI and treating heart failure.
The important beneficial effects of these compounds are multifactorial and include transient reductions in AT II and aldosterone levels (both of which have direct vasoconstrictor and smooth muscle proliferative effects) and reduced degradation of bradykinin (a vasodilator).
Bradykinin
Interesting! If you reduce your salt intake, the effectiveness of medications will increase. With regular salt restriction, blood pressure drops significantly. Excess sodium increases the severity of hypertension and increases the risk of complications.
By blocking angiotensin at the receptor level, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) provide an alternative and more direct approach to inhibiting the effect of AT II. Potential advantages of BAR over ACEIs include direct and selective antagonism of the AT1 receptor (regardless of AT II levels). BDs have a lower side effect profile because AT1 receptor blockade does not increase bradykinin concentrations (which are thought to mediate many of the side effects of ACEIs).
There are also drugs available that inhibit the action of aldosterone (spironolactone). They are mainly used as diuretics for myocardial failure and primary hyperaldosternism.
In secondary hyperaldosteronism, the body releases too much aldosterone. The cause is usually overactivation of the RAAS due to kidney disease.
How much water to drink for hypertension
Hypertension and water consumption are closely related to each other. Drinking fluids lowers blood pressure, but drinking too much, on the contrary, increases blood pressure.
As a result, it becomes clear that it is necessary to calculate exactly how much water a person is allowed to drink with hypertension, so as not to aggravate the situation.
The minimum amount of liquid for an adult is 1.5 liters. In this case, we mean pure liquid. Often, if you are overweight, your doctor recommends increasing your drink consumption to 3 liters.
Calculating how many glasses of water a day to drink for treatment and prevention is simple - you need to find out your weight and multiply by 30. This means that per 1 kg of a person’s weight there is 30 ml.
For example, if a person weighs 70 kg, he is supposed to drink 2100 ml. In terms of standard 250 ml glasses, this is 8 glasses. In the summer heat, you can slightly increase your fluid intake (by 1-2 glasses).
By drinking water, you can not only improve your condition, but also reduce excess weight. In this case, it is better to drink the recommended amount of liquid half an hour before meals - 1-2 glasses each time.
This will reduce the serving size. You should also avoid drinking water immediately after eating food - you are allowed to eat after 40 minutes.
What is hypertensive dehydration and its treatment
Dehydration is a lack of water in the human body, which provokes a decrease in blood pressure. As a result, you may experience fainting, drowsiness, or headache.
The absence of water lowers the pressure, and since it can improve the condition due to the fact that the liquid increases the indicators, it is recommended to drink clean liquid when the value is low.
You can tell about a water balance disorder by the color of your urine. If it is bright yellow, then the person should drink fluids. But not all drinks are equally healthy.
Mineralka
For hypertension, drink mineral water without gas. It is enriched with useful vitamins and microelements. The answer to the question of how much mineral water to drink for hypertension is simple: the amount of fluid consumed should decrease slightly.
So, drink no more than a glass a day. It is better to drink water in the morning when you need to start your metabolism.
When choosing a mineral water, you should pay attention to its composition - the concentration of minerals should be in the range of 200-400 mg per 1 liter of liquid. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, and iodine must be present.
Melt water
When asked whether it is possible to drink melt water at high pressure, experts answer in the affirmative. Everything is connected with its positive effect - it passes through cell membranes better, which accelerates the leaching of harmful deposits from the body.
Since the cells need to be cleaned regularly, people without blood pressure problems should also drink the melted liquid.
To prepare the melt liquid, pour cold water into a plastic bottle and place it in the freezer. Once frozen, remove the bottle and leave it at room temperature.
Then consume in small quantities. How much melt water to drink for hypertension? The amount of such liquid is limited to half of the prescribed norm (1-1.5 l).
With lemon
In case of arterial hypertension or hypertension, water with lemon can improve the patient’s condition - a natural stabilization of indicators occurs. It is recommended to drink not only pure liquid, but also tea with citrus fruit.
To do this, add a slice of lemon to a glass of water or tea. Make tea in the usual way (you can add sugar) and drink it before bed.
Prepare water with lemon in the evening - pour a glass of boiling water over a slice of lemon. It is better not to add sugar and sweeteners. Drink in small sips in the morning on an empty stomach. After half an hour or an hour you can have breakfast.
Water diet
Having determined how water affects blood pressure - whether it increases or decreases levels - most hypertensive patients begin to practice a water diet. This diet is recommended only in the absence of kidney disease.
Diets are followed for 3 days, no more than once a month. During a limited diet, only water is allowed.
There are softer diets - during the specified time they eat vegetables and fruits with a high water content (cucumbers, apples, grapefruits). In three days of the diet you can lose 2 kg of excess weight.
Since it is important for patients how much water they are allowed to drink during hypertension, even on a water diet, compliance with the drinking regime is required.
The maximum dosage allowed is 2 liters of pure liquid. Especially if the diet includes eating fruits and vegetables.
Contrast shower and douches
Taking a contrast shower with high blood pressure is not recommended, as it promotes the release of adrenaline.
As a result, this leads to blood viscosity and an increase in blood pressure values. Dousing with cold water is also prohibited.
Even temperature changes in individual parts of the body provoke stress for the body.
Folk remedies
Prevention of high blood pressure is also carried out using recipes from traditional medicine. To do this, it is recommended to use the following methods:
- Cranberry compote. Cover the berries with sugar and water and bring to a boil. Drink a glass before meals for 2 weeks.
- Tea with honey. This product stabilizes the indicators, so it is recommended to use a natural product instead of sugar every time.
- Plantain tincture. The leaves of this herb are filled into a jar and filled with a bottle of vodka. Keep for 2 weeks in a dark place and drink 15-20 drops on an empty stomach.
- Natural rowan juice (prepared in any way you like).
- Kefir with cinnamon. It is recommended to add a teaspoon of cinnamon to a glass of kefir. It is recommended to drink the drink to lower blood pressure.
When using traditional methods, you need to pay attention to the possible manifestation of allergic reactions. Therefore, you should not resort to recipes that contain potentially dangerous ingredients.
Water diet – benefit or harm?
The water diet is not new. It reached its greatest popularity in the 80s. Recently, the water diet has been experiencing a revival; women turn to it when they need to quickly lose extra pounds. To follow it, you only need water and fruit. No complex drugs, no pills or nutritional supplements. But if you call everything correctly, then the water diet is just a noble name for a hunger strike. Most nutritionists do not recommend it, at least one day no more than once a month.
The diet itself is as follows. For three days in a row you should not drink anything other than water. A lighter option allows some fruits or vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, carrots, grapefruit).
The biggest advantage of the water diet is its low cost. A few liters a day definitely won’t cut your budget.
The second plus is guaranteed success in terms of weight loss. Within 3 days you can get rid of 2 kg.
Unfortunately, like other “miracle” diets, the water diet has disadvantages. The most important disadvantage is the almost complete lack of nutrients important for the normal functioning of the body. There is also a risk that instead of fat, muscle burning will begin, from which the body will take energy.
Prevention of blood pressure
Since water does not increase, but decreases pressure, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with preventive actions:
- If the patient is concerned about frequent hypertensive crises, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
- The doctor recommends a full examination and prescribes medication in accordance with the results obtained.
- Compliance with the regime. This is important not only for hypertension, but also for preventing problems. It is recommended to adhere to proper nutrition, exercise (light and vigorous), and also walk daily in the fresh air.
- More fruits, vegetables, white meat and fish are added to the diet.
- It is recommended to eat sea fish and seafood twice a week.
- It is important to avoid salty foods.
When reducing pressure with water, you should remember about prevention and the fact that liquid both lowers pressure and increases it. For example, carbonated sweet water will only worsen the situation, further increasing blood pressure levels.