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If there isn't enough water for adequate blood volume, some capilliary beds (tiniest blood vessels) may close so that the blood doesn't have to go as far. Closed capilliaries cause resistance in the arterial system, so more pressure is needed to pump the blood throughout the body. Exercise helps reduce blood pressure because it keeps capilliary beds open. One can ask if diuretics (water pills) are really a good idea for treating high blood pressure! Getting rid of more water is most likely to make the problem worse over time as the body adjusts to a further dehydration. Usually initially one's blood pressure is reduced on diuretics, but eventually most wind up on a different form of blood pressure medication such as beta blockers or ace inhibitors when the diuretics "stop working", due to further constriction of the arterial system to cope with chronic worsening dehydration. Perhaps the initial treatment should be to drink adequate water so that the capilliary beds can re-open and blood pressure can return to normal. According to Dr. Batmanghelidj in his book Your Body's Many Cries For Water, if there are heart failure issues, water intake should be increased gradually over time to allow the body to slowly reduce its drive for sodium retention, and increase its ability to produce urine.
Most of us can increase the amount of water we drink more quickly. Drink half your bodyweight in pounds, in ounces of pure water
each day (0.033kg in litres.) Measure it so you know you are getting
enough. Juice, soda pop, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol do not count as they
are diuretics and will cause you to lose water, so drink an extra cup of
water for each cup of those beverages you consume. Drink up and feel
better!
Related Tips:
Remineralize your water
Tap, filtered or bottled?
Plastic water bottles
Batmanghelidj, F. MD Your Body's Many Cries For Water, Global Health Solutions, Vienna, VA., USA, 1997.
Chek, Paul; You Are What You Eat CD Series Chek Institute, San Diego, CA, 2002.
Iqbal, MJ paradigm shift Science and Medicine Simplified 2: 6-15, June 1991.
online at www.watercure.com
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