Why Does Drinking Alcohol Cause Dehydration?
If you’ve ever celebrated after work, gone out for a happy hour, or any of life’s special moments with a few alcoholic drinks, you know how it can impact every aspect of you the next day. Symptoms like a pounding headache, sensitivity to bright lights, nausea, and extreme thirst can be linked to fluid and electrolyte imbalances made worse by alcohol consumption. These symptoms are caused by the way alcohol dehydrates you.
Does Alcohol Dehydrate You?
Yes, alcohol can dehydrate you because it is considered a diuretic. It causes your body to take fluids from your blood through your renal system, including the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, much faster than other liquids.
You’ve heard the suggestion before, “drink water in between each drink.” But who does this? Why would you want to get filled up on water when the point is to go out and drink? Nevertheless, it is a suggestion that is worth taking because If you don’t drink enough water with alcohol, you can become dehydrated quickly.
Why Does Alcohol Dehydrate Human Body?
Let’s find out why alcohol dehydrates so it may be prevented.
- Drinking on an empty stomach
After you take a sip of your alcoholic drink, immediately both the liquid and alcohol contents of the drink pass through your stomach lining and small intestine into the bloodstream. If you didn’t eat and drink on an empty stomach, alcohol could be absorbed quickly into the bloodstream within minutes. But if you drink water or eat while you’re drinking alcohol, it may take much longer.
- Alcohol builds up in your bloodstream.
After alcohol enters your bloodstream, it travels anywhere and everywhere in your body. This includes your brain, which is why you feel light-headed and loopy, and your judgment can be slightly impaired. This is when you would be considered buzzed or drunk. Alcohol gets into your lungs and is released when you exhale. Breathalyzers can be used to check if someone’s driving while intoxicated.
- Alcohol slowly gets metabolized by the body.
Your metabolism can turn parts of alcohol into nutrients and energy. This happens at a rate of about one beer, a small glass of wine, or one shot of liquor per hour.
- Alcohol is converted in the liver and begins acting as a diuretic.
When you drink alcohol, you pee more than just the drink. Your body gets rid of water and electrolytes. When you pee more than what you drink, dehydration sets in.
Drinking large amounts of alcohol also affects your kidney’s ability to regulate, reabsorb and retain water. When this happens, your body can’t retain water as effectively, compounding the effects of dehydration.
Get On The Path For Alcohol Recovery at Agape Treatment Center
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse, Agape Treatment Center can help you get back on track. Our rehabilitation center in Fort Lauderdale for substance abuse embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends that serves regardless of circumstances. We provide individuals all over the country with the opportunity to achieve lasting sobriety.
At Agape, we believe that every individual is worth living a joyous and rewarding life free from addiction. Our addiction specialists will get to the underlying root causes of substance abuse entirely through comprehensive treatment plans that, among other treatments (participation in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient care, outpatient treatment, etc. ), will include multiple levels of care.
Stephanie Robilio is an accomplished Clinical Director at Agape Behavioral Healthcare. With a Master of Social Work degree, LCSW license, and extensive training in Rapid Resolution Therapy under her belt, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her unique combination of education and experience allows her to provide exceptional care to clients and lead her team with confidence. Stephanie’s joy comes from witnessing the moments when her patients creatively connect the dots and bravely move toward reclaiming their power. Her purpose is to help individuals understand their past so they can create a future full of hope, growth, and success. Stephanie attributes a large portion of her success to the supportive culture and strong sense of community fostered by the Agape team.
