Have noticed on some of these T.V. shows where people are lost and go without water for an extended period that their blood pressure goes up because as they dehydrate their blood gets thicker.

It has been said that by the time you are thirsty it's too late. You should have hydrated before that.

Now, as applied to lifting.....we are constantly putting ourselves in situations where nutrients are in our blood on a prolonged basis, what with shakes, multi-meals,supps, fats,protein and what not.

We also seem to require more water for kidney flushing.

Have noticed that there are more than a few lifters out there who say their blood pressure has gone up since they started lifting.

As lifters..are we approaching a state of dehydration faster than the average person?

And if so is this one more reason to make sure we are superhydrating at every opportunity to keep the blood in a state where it is never less than "max" in terms of fluidity.

If you superhydrate ( but not to the point where you are inviting Hyponatremia) would this have an effect on controlling your blood pressure as opposed to not hydrating?

I don't have high blood pressure...I'm just curious:blank:

It's not dehydration; water raises BP, especially the older we get. For example:


Patients who suffer from autonomic nervous system failure can turn to a new treatment for their blood pressure abnormalities: a large glass of water. Investigators at Vanderbilt's Autonomic Dysfunction Center report in the February 8th issue of the journal Circulation that water has a powerful blood pressure raising effect in these patients.

Water also raises blood pressure in older normal subjects, but not in young normal subjects. The studies suggest that water is an important unrecognized factor in clinical studies of blood pressure medications. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/02/000208075311.htm)

Another example:

Drinking water could help patients with low blood pressure
Ordinary tap or bottled water could help people suffering from low blood pressure who faint while standing, claim researchers from Imperial College and St Mary's Hospital.

According to research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, drinking two glasses of water can raise blood pressure, potentially providing a solution for patients who have low blood pressure while standing caused by autonomic failure. (http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/news/p401122/)

Read the first site article Hort...but it doesn't say whether older people should be more concerned about their water intake to stave off high blood pressure.

How much water should an older lifter drink?

Would an aging lifter be putting themselves at risk by consuming large quantites of H2O?

Would an aging lifter be putting themselves at risk by consuming large quantites of H2O?
With a normal heart and normal kidneys.....no.

Read the first site article Hort...but it doesn't say whether older people should be more concerned about their water intake to stave off high blood pressure.

How much water should an older lifter drink?

Would an aging lifter be putting themselves at risk by consuming large quantites of H2O?

You're overthinking things... point is, water raisese BP... but just a tiny amount. I'd wager just standing up alters your BP more than a couple glasses of water.

If you had CHRONIC very high BP... I'd consult a doctor... but otherwise.

Well thats the first time I have heard this, that water raises blood pressure. But something new to be learned every day too.

So for a typical couch potatoe, that is probably in a little bit of a dehydrated state and due to this (guessed at) state of dehydration with blood being on the thickish side, would water raise their blood pressure? Or would the water lower it by making the blood less viscous?