Can Dehydration Cause a Stroke?

Being dehydrated certainly doesn’t do your body any favors. You might get a headache and feel tired and dizzy. Not getting enough water makes it harder for your body to function.

But is dehydration enough to trigger a life-threatening condition like a stroke? Researchers have started evaluating this question. The answer isn’t obvious yet, but it’s worth digging into. 

If you’re concerned about your stroke risk, visit David Bolon, MD, and our team at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular in Midtown East Manhattan, New York City. With options like cardiac screening, we can check you for factors that increase your risk of stroke. We can also help you identify prevention tactics beyond staying hydrated.

For now, though, let’s focus on how drinking water could impact your stroke outcome. 

The dehydration-stroke connection

Studies haven’t uncovered a direct link between dehydration and having a stroke. In other words, not drinking enough water isn’t a known cause of a stroke.

That said, researchers theorize that dehydration can make your blood thicker, and thick blood may have trouble flowing through your veins and could ultimately contribute to a stroke. 

As of yet, no definitive study says dehydration causes strokes. However, getting enough water can help with stroke prevention and overall health. 

What we do know

As researchers dug into the dehydration-stroke connection, they discovered something key. Dehydration at the time of your stroke might not have been the primary cause, but it certainly plays a role in your outcome. 

One study looked at nearly 2,600 patients. It revealed that more than 60% of them were dehydrated at some point during their hospital stay for their stroke. Those individuals were significantly more likely to have a worse outcome than their hydrated peers. They were also statistically more likely to die or be dependent on others at the time of their discharge from the hospital. 

To sum up the research, dehydration plays a role in strokes, although no study has definitively nailed it down as a cause. That said, drinking enough water could help to prevent a stroke and, if you do have one, go a long way toward helping you enjoy a better, longer life afterward. 

So drink up. 

If you want more ways to prevent a stroke and protect your cardiovascular health, call our team at (716) 303-4738 or book your appointment online today.