Can Dehydration Cause Chest Pain? Exploring the Connection

Chest ache will not be a typical symptom of mild dehydration (it is extra usually as a consequence of issues like indigestion or anxiousness). However extreme dehydration can throw off your blood pressure, probably leading to that disagreeable feeling in your chest.

Luckily, there are methods to forestall extreme dehydration and the signs that include it. Discover ways to do this right here, plus the the reason why chest ache and dehydration are associated.

Why does dehydration trigger chest ache?

Extreme dehydration causes chest ache due to the blood stress modifications that occur when your physique does not have sufficient fluids.

While you’re very dehydrated, your blood stress drops and fewer recent blood, oxygen, and vitamins are transported to your organs. In response, your physique tries to boost your blood stress by growing your coronary heart charge and constricting your blood vessels.

“This elevated coronary heart charge would possibly really feel like heart palpitations and even chest ache for some individuals,” says Marc Taub, MD, medical director of emergency companies at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Middle in Laguna Hills, California.

The more severe your dehydration is, the extra probably you’re to really feel these results. In some circumstances, the cardiac results of dehydration, like chest ache or fast heartbeat, might be an indication of an underlying coronary heart difficulty that is gone unaddressed.

“Dehydration can virtually be checked out as a mini stress take a look at. Feeling chest ache on this setting might be an indicator of an underlying cardiovascular difficulty,” says Eric Hames, MD, a household medication doctor at Texas Well being Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance in Fort Value, Texas.

In both case, dehydration that is reached the purpose of constructing your chest damage requires medical consideration.

“Any scenario through which an individual has chest ache, whatever the context, ought to all the time be thought-about severe and mentioned with a physician,” says Dr. Hames. You physician might run blood work, or checks like an ECG and echocardiogram, to rule out a coronary heart situation.

“Dehydration can virtually be checked out as a mini stress take a look at. Feeling chest ache might be an indicator of a cardiovascular difficulty.”—Eric Hames, MD, household medication doctor

Different unintended effects of dehydration

Your physique has many different methods of letting you realize it is advisable drink extra water. “Thirst might be the perfect indicator that our physique wants fluids,” says Dr. Hames. Different clues that you could possibly be dehydrated embody the next, per the National Library of Medicine (NLM):

• Dry mouth
• Darkish coloured urine
• Urinating or sweating lower than typical
• Dry pores and skin
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

As dehydration will get worse, so will the signs. Indicators of harmful dehydration embody the next, per the NLM:

• Confusion
• Fainting
• Lack of urination
• Fast coronary heart charge
• Fast respiration
• Shock

Should you begin to really feel any of these signs, name your physician and go to the closest ER as quickly as attainable.

The way to deal with and forestall dehydration

One of the simplest ways to deal with and forestall dehydration? Ingesting sufficient water, says Dr. Hames. Your actual hydration wants will rely on components like your age, measurement, exercise stage, and local weather. Although in line with the Mayo Clinic, you need to roughly goal for anyplace between 9 and 12 cups of water (or different hydrating fluids) per day.

Should you’re extra bodily lively or are sweatier than typical (from scorching climate or sickness), Dr. Taub recommends bumping up your fluid consumption. You will know you are getting sufficient water in case your urine is the colour of straw or lemonade, per the Mayo Clinic. If it begins to look extra like apple juice, you are dehydrated.

Even in the event you solely really feel somewhat thirsty, begin sipping. “Gentle dehydration can sometimes be resolved by consuming extra fluids,” and you will probably begin to perk up inside 15 to twenty minutes, says Dr. Hames.

Whereas plain water is all the time a sensible choice, you might also wish to think about an electrolyte drink—like Pedialyte or Gatorade—in the event you’ve been sweating closely, vomiting, or have had diarrhea, provides Dr. Taub.

Treating extreme dehydration, nevertheless, would require medical consideration, as a result of it could result in kidney injury if left untreated. “Conditions of extreme dehydration ought to be handled in a medical setting with aggressive IV fluid rehydration and shut monitoring,” says Dr. Hames.

When to see a physician

Whereas some causes of chest ache are delicate and do not require instant medical consideration (like indigestion or stress, for instance), different causes, together with extreme dehydration, ought to be handled instantly, say Dr. Hames and Dr. Taub. Chest ache from an absence of water will usually include different signs like confusion, dizziness, fainting, or coronary heart palpitations, per the NLM.

In some circumstances, chest ache might be an indication of one other underlying well being difficulty. “Chest ache can occur for a lot of causes, corresponding to coronary heart assaults, blood clots, pneumonia, and even accidents to the chest,”says Dr. Taub. All of these issues require a medical workup. So if the discomfort is not easing up, and comes with different regarding signs, name 911.

FAQ

How lengthy do dehydration signs final?

Dehydration signs final till you’ve got adequately replenished your fluid shops—i.e., drank sufficient water. The common restoration time from dehydration, if it is delicate, ought to be about 15 to twenty minutes after beginning to drink, notes Dr. Hames.

What drink will hydrate you the quickest?

Contemplating your physique is round 60 p.c water, plain outdated H2O “is all the time the perfect reply relating to rehydrating,” says Dr. Hames. However in the event you’ve been sweating closely for a sustained interval (like in the event you’re lively on a scorching day), attempt an electrolyte drink like Gatorade or Pedialyte. “Electrolyte substitute drinks work nice for rehydrating and replenishing fluids and electrolytes,” he provides. You might additionally attempt consuming coconut water or consuming water-rich fruits like watermelon.

What ought to I do if I get up dehydrated?

No have to do something particular. It is fairly regular to really feel thirsty when you wake up (in any case, you simply went the entire night time with out consuming something). Simply down a giant glass of water earlier than your espresso, or hold your trusty water bottle close to your bedside (psst: try these water bottles with straws if you do not have one). You must begin to really feel extra hydrated inside 15 to twenty minutes.