Keep Calm and Hydrate – Hydration and BP Management

Water makes up about 60% to 70% of our body. It is an important component for overall health. However, staying hydrated often takes a backseat. Over time, dehydration can cause several ailments. Some diseases may have irreversible effects.

You may be wondering if drinking enough water can also help control your blood pressure (BP)? Yes, hydration can help in controlling your blood pressure levels.

For those who forget to drink water regularly, we have a solution! Smart hydration monitors can be game-changers for your hydration. These bottles track your water intake and remind you to stay hydrated.

So, let’s understand the impact of hydration on hypertension. We will also see how these hydration tracking devices help in managing blood pressure.

Relationship Between Hydration and Blood Pressure

There is a very strong correlation between dehydration and blood pressure. Water helps keep the blood vessels relaxed and supports heart health. In the absence of water, the body becomes devoid of fluid. This makes your blood thicker. Thus, your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body. Exertion on your heart can elevate your heart rate and blood pressure.

Besides that, dehydration causes your blood volume (the amount of fluid in your blood vessels) to decrease This can initially lower blood pressure. But then, your body works to resolve this. It releases hormones like vasopressin. Vasopressin has two effects in this scenario. It helps your body hold onto water but also tightens your blood vessels. Constriction of blood vessels causes an increase in blood pressure.

Additionally, water shortage increases the amount of sodium (salt) in your blood. High sodium levels also trigger the release of more vasopressin. The higher the levels of vasopressin, the higher your blood pressure.

If you’re already dealing with high blood pressure and anger, dehydration can make things worse. Dehydration can also cause vomiting and dizziness. Both of these can affect your blood pressure. If dehydration is left untreated, it can lead to serious issues like kidney damage and even shock.

What Are Smart Bottles – Mechanisms and Features

Smart water bottles help you remember to drink enough water every day. They come with various features that make hydration tracking for BP easier:

➢    Hydration reminders

One of the key features of the best smart water bottle for hydration is that they light up or buzz. The bottle may glow, beep, or send a phone alert when it’s time to drink water. They keep reminding you to stay hydrated.

➢    Water intake tracking

Apart from reminders, it measures how much water you drink and updates your intake automatically. Some smart bottles have sensors that detect each sip you take.

➢    Smartphone connectivity:

Many smart bottles connect to an app that tracks and shows your hydration levels. The app may display fun visuals, like a person filling up with water. This motivates you and track your progress throughout the day

➢    Personalised hydration needs:

There is a myth that everyone should consume an average of 7 to 8 glasses of water daily. However, water needs may vary from person to person. Some bottles calculate how much water you need based on factors like your age, physical activity, the weather, and weight. These smart bottles adjust your hydration goal and then send reminders accordingly.

➢    Temperature control

Some bottles can keep your water hot or cold for hours. So, you will always have the right temperature to drink from.

➢    Tracking other beverages

Smart bottles help you stay hydrated before you even feel thirsty. Some can connect to nutrition apps to track all your drinks, like water, coffee, or juice. They also suggest healthier options instead of sugary or caffeinated drinks. This makes it easier to stay hydrated the right way.

➢    Activity-friendly design

Many smart bottles are designed to be portable and easy to carry while hiking, walking, or working out. Some are collapsible, while others can be worn on the wrist. These bottles allow you to stay hydrated without carrying extra weight.

Benefits of Smart Bottles for Blood Pressure Management

Using a smart water bottle can help you drink enough water daily. Here’s how hydration tracking devices  benefit blood pressure management:

➢    Consistent hydration

Drinking water regularly is a must for blood pressure management. What better way to meet your hydration goals than to use a hydration tracking device? You will get reminders to drink water. So, there is no excuse you will forget or skip.

➢    Better tracking

Using a smart hydration monitor to track your water intake will help you set and achieve your hydration goals. You can see how much water you drink daily and adjust if needed. This makes it easier to stay on track and manage your BP.

➢    Improved heart health

Proper hydration keeps your blood flow smooth, reducing strain on your heart. If your heart has less burden, it can help manage blood pressure levels better.

➢    Weight control

Binge eating or overeating can produce excessive calories. This may contribute to weight gain and high blood pressure over time. Drinking water helps you feel full and thus reduces hunger cravings. It aids digestion and prevents bloating, which helps keep your blood pressure in check.

➢    Reduces salt impact

Salty or processed foods can increase sodium levels in the body, leading to high blood pressure. Staying hydrated with a hydration tracking device helps your body flush out extra sodium, which can lower high blood pressure.

How to Use Smart Bottles to Manage BP

Smart bottles are easy to use. Here are some simple steps to make the most of them:

➢    Set a hydration goal

The first step is to feed the desired information into the bottle’s app. After analysing your personal data, the hydration tracking device will suggest how much water you should drink.

➢    Follow reminders

Your job doesn’t end here. You must pay attention to alerts from the bottle or app and take sips throughout the day. Ignoring these alerts will get you off target, which can make BP management difficult.

➢    Track your progress

Once you have become accustomed to timely water intake, check the app to see if you are meeting your hydration target.

➢    Adjust for activity levels

Most smart bottles alert you when it’s time to drink water, but they don’t automatically adjust your intake based on your activity level. If you’re exercising or sweating more,your BP may naturally rise. So, you’ll need to manually increase your water intake to stay properly hydrated.

Conclusion

Along with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and guided relaxation techniques, we need to consider the impact of hydration on blood pressure. We know that some things sound too difficult, but by leveraging the benefits of technology, it can become easier to get our health in our hands.

Smart water bottles make it easy to track and improve your water intake. By using a hydration tracking device, you can stay on top of your water needs and support your heart health. If you often forget to drink water, a smart bottle could be the perfect solution for you.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this article is to educate, spread awareness in relation to hypertension and other diseases to the public at large. The contents of this article are created and developed by BPinControl.in through its authors, which has necessary, authorisations, license, approvals, permits etc to allow usage of this articles on The Website. The views and opinions expressed in this article are views, opinions of the respective authors and are independently endorsed by doctors. Although great care has been taken in compiling and checking the information in this article, The Website shall not be responsible, or in any way liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this article whether arising from negligence or otherwise, or for any consequences arising therefrom. The content of this article is not a substitute for any medical advice. The Website shall not be held responsible or liable for any consequence arising out of reliance on the information provided in the article.