Hydrate or Hate: Apps to Keep Your BP and Your Thirst Quenched

Adequate hydration has been a long-standing discussion in modern times. Do you ever wonder why?

Water makes up around 60 percent of your body weight. This is how precious it is for every internal function in your body. Its key role lies in dissolving and transporting substances. It supports metabolic reactions such as lubricating tissues. It also regulates your body temperature.

But do you know that your hydration levels have a lot to do with your heart health? In this blog, we will understand how hydration and hypertension work together.

Why Should Hydration Be Non-Negotiable?

Water quenches your thirst. It also acts as the backbone of major body functions. It is like the ultimate multitasker within your body. Water helps in –

• Digestion
• Regulating body temperature
• Lubricating your joints
• Transporting nutrients via cell-to-cell communication
• Maintaining the health of your heart

In short, water is to your body just like oil is to an engine. In its absence, your body will start to sputter and stall. This is the condition of dehydration.

How Much Fluid Do You Need Regularly?

An average human body has 35 to 45 liters of water. A research on Human Water Needs recommends 3.7 litres for adult men per day. The requirement for adult women is around 2.7 liters per day.

How Can You Ensure Your BP and Water Levels Are Under Your Control?

Hydration apps use regular push notifications to remind you of your daily water intake. They may also use motivational cues, gamification and calculation of daily required intake as ways to help you maintain hydration levels.

Here are specific apps to track your water intake levels and regulate your BP levels.

WaterMinder App

The app tracks your H2O levels. It reminds you to take a break and sip whenever water levels fall below the recommended limits. Once you sip in, the app calculates the water you consume.

Key Features

• Sets your daily water goals
• Measures how close you are to your daily goals
• Historical updates of two weeks

Hydro Coach Pro

This app determines your daily fluid consumption.

Key Features

• Graphical representation of weekly and monthly updates
• A journal to maintain accurate water records
• Convenient widgets for comprehensive insights

My Water

This is a simple and intuitive water app.You enter your personal health information. The app decides how much water your body needs daily.

Key Features

• Multiple beverage options
• Calendar for tracking water consumption
• In-depth personal stats

H2- Relation Between Hypertension and Hydration

Dehydration is a process where you lose water from your body. As water is crucial for dissolving and transporting substances across, almost every body part is impacted by dehydration.

• Fluid Volume: Your heart continuously pumps blood to various parts. As your body loses water during dehydration, the volume and composition of blood in your vessels change.
• Fluid Pressure: To compensate, your heart now exerts more pressure and beats faster than normal. Ultimately, your heart rate and blood pressure increase.

Thus, drinking adequate water is a necessity for supporting your heart function. This is how water levels impact your hormonal and circulatory systems:

Maintaining Blood Volume

Under dehydrated conditions, your heart’s blood volume decreases. This causes an increase in its pressure.

Constriction of Blood Vessels

With the declining water levels, your blood’s sodium levels decrease, which results in vasopressin hormone secretion. Vasopressin is a blood vessel-constricting hormone. This increases your blood pressure levels.

Water and the Cardiovascular System

Water is essential for your heart and blood vessels. There is a direct relation between hypertension and hydration. Dehydration and hypervolemia both are crucial to this relationship.

While dehydration results in loss of water, hypervolemia is when your body stores more water than it requires. Both impact your blood pressure levels. Severe concerns of hypervolemia are –

• High blood pressure
• Fluid buildup around arms and legs
• Abdominal swelling
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing following fluid buildup in the lungs

Thus, a good water level is necessary for balanced hydration and hypertension.

How Should You Choose an Ideal App for Regulating Your Water Intake?

Below parameters are useful in identifying the right app –

Information Quality

Ask your doctors for quality apps. You should be able to regulate your hydration and hypertension levels with it in an intuitive and effortless manner.

Personal Needs

Check whether they are meeting your requirements. Your chosen app should recommend your water intake irrespective of your lifestyle, including during pregnancy or old age.

Reviews and Ratings

See what other customers feel about the use and benefits of the app.

Key Takeaway

Staying hydrated is one of the simplest yet most challenging activities in light of modern lifestyles. Hydration supports a healthy heart and a healthy mind too. Understanding your hydration and hypertension levels is paramount. This is now easy with hydration apps in your phones. These apps track your water intake and set daily goals. However, the benefits of each app vary on a person-to-person basis. Make sure you consult with your general physician to get clarity on which app to utilise.

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