{"id":630585,"date":"2024-12-09T09:30:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T14:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630585"},"modified":"2025-05-28T14:16:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T18:16:50","slug":"does-drinking-water-lower-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-drinking-water-lower-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Does drinking water lower blood pressure?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hypertension, or high blood pressure<\/span><\/a>, affects nearly <\/span>half<\/span><\/a> of American adults. According to the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/span>, only one in four have the condition under control\u2014and that\u2019s a problem. Why? Hypertension increases your risk of heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many factors influence blood pressure, from dietary choices and physical activity levels to how well you manage stress. Maintaining proper hydration is particularly important. Keep reading to find out how drinking water helps lower blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can drinking water lower blood pressure?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Drinking water can indeed help normalize blood pressure, says <\/span>Raj Dasgupta, MD<\/span>, a board-certified pulmonologist and professor at the University of Southern California. <\/span>If you are dehydrated, it can also help lower blood pressure. Although drinking water is not a hypertension treatment, it supports healthier blood pressure levels, whether you have hypertension or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> concluded that drinking six to eight cups of plain water daily may help prevent hypertension by regulating blood pressure. Drinking water may also mean that the patients are not drinking sodium-rich liquids, which can increase blood pressure. Similarly, drinking water can help raise blood pressure in <\/span>individuals with hypotension (low blood pressure)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The impact of hydration on blood pressure<\/span><\/h2>\n

Staying hydrated<\/span><\/a> helps regulate blood volume, supporting steady blood circulation and reducing strain on the heart, says <\/span>Brittany Ferri, Ph.D., OTR\/L<\/span><\/a>, an occupational therapist and founder of <\/span>Simplicity of Health<\/span><\/a>. On the flip side, your blood volume drops when you\u2019re dehydrated, says Dr. Dasgupta. M<\/span>aintaining healthy blood pressure ensures that oxygen and nutrients are delivered to every organ in the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Up to <\/span>60%<\/span><\/a> of your body weight is made up of water. <\/span>When you\u2019re dehydrated, your body\u2019s water supply is low, says Dr. Dasgupta<\/a>.<\/span> Dehydration decreases your blood volume, leading to an <\/span>increased<\/span><\/a> concentration of sodium.<\/span><\/p>\n

A buildup of sodium (called <\/span>hypernatremia<\/span><\/a>) can cause blood vessels to constrict, increasing vascular resistance\u2014which makes it harder for blood to flow through the circulatory system. As the heart must work harder to pump blood through narrower blood vessels, your blood pressure increases.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for how fast drinking water can lower blood pressure, a <\/span>research review and meta-analysis<\/span><\/a> suggests that noticeable improvements may occur within 30 minutes to an hour after consuming water, with initial changes to heart rate and blood pressure appearing in the first 15 to 20 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monitoring blood pressure is essential for assessing cardiovascular health and identifying potential health conditions.<\/span> Wait at least 30 minutes after drinking water to check your blood pressure levels. Doing so allows the body sufficient time to respond. Consuming around <\/span>500 ml<\/span><\/a> (approximately two cups) of water is often enough to reduce blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blood pressure readings<\/span><\/a> consist of two numbers written as a fraction. The top number\u2014systolic blood pressure\u2014measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number\u2014diastolic blood pressure\u2014measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. For example, a reading of 120\/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) indicates a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80. Normal systolic values are considered below 120, and normal diastolic values are below 80.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blood pressure ranges can be categorized as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n