Is It Healthy to Drink Water Before Going to Bed?
Researchers are conflicted if drinking water before bedtime is beneficial.
Some people drink a glass of water before they sleep to stay hydrated throughout the night.
However, this may increase the number of times you need to pee during the night.
Worst of all, waking up to pee disrupts the sleep cycle, and this can lead to a bunch of other negative health effects.
Later on in this article, we’ll cover some of the potential downsides of drinking too much water before bed, but for now let’s talk about the main health benefits:
5 Health Benefits of Going to Bed Hydrated
Enjoy these five bodacious health benefits of going to bed hydrated:
1. Reduces Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
In a study published in Scientific Reports, drinking water before bed makes it easier for the heart to pump blood while you sleep.
This means the heart doesn’t have to work so hard and can rest and recover.
A separate 2020 study found that drinking water before bedtime helps the heart pump blood more efficiently, lowering blood pressure, heart strain, and heart rate.
This allows people to de-stress, unwind, fall asleep, and stay asleep easier.
After a long day at work, you might not be in the best of moods when you get home.
Worst of all, anxious thoughts and stress can disrupt your sleep.
Luckily, research suggests that hydration can:
- Improve mood
- Promote relaxation
- Increase feelings of satisfaction
- Produce other positive emotions
All of which can contribute to a more restful night's sleep!
On the other hand, dehydration can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue — all of which can interfere with sleep.
A lingering headache can make it hard to sleep.
If this describes you, a glass of water before bedtime may solve your problem.
Evidence suggests that drinking water can help relieve some headaches.
Another study published in 2020 discovered that it might also help reduce headache symptoms.
Drinking water, especially warm water, is one natural way to aid detoxification and digestion.
Warm water stimulates blood circulation, aids waste breakdown, and increases sweat output.
Sweating causes fluid loss during the night but removes excess salts or toxins and cleanses the skin cells.
Having a glass of warm water before bed will keep you hydrated throughout the night and may assist the body in ridding itself of unwanted toxins.
5. Keeps You Hydrated Throughout the Night
Dehydration means that the body starts losing more water than it replenishes.
When people lose 2% or more of their water body content, they become dehydrated.
- Increased heart rate and body temperature
- Muscle cramps
- Dry mouth, lips, and eyes
- Bad mood
These symptoms can make it harder to fall asleep and to sleep more soundly.
On the flipside, drinking plenty of water can help you rehydrate and sleep better at night.
Nocturia is the increased need to pee at night.
It’s caused by high fluid intake, sleep disorders, and bladder obstruction.
A healthy person produces more sleep hormones, like melatonin, while they sleep.
This slows down both kidney function and urine production and allows you to sleep more soundly.
People with nocturia, on the other hand, tend to sleep more poorly because they’re always waking up, leading to sleep deprivation and all the other nasty side effects that come with it.
When your sleep is disrupted by nocturia, your health suffers.
- Poor sleep can have negative effects on memory, concentration, and mood.
Sleep deprivation can also increase the risk of:
- Obesity due to high cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Depression
The following risk factors may increase the chance of developing nocturia:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate gland enlargement)
- Bladder overactivity
- Diabetes-related bladder infections
- Certain medications for heart disease and constipation
How to Get Rid of Nocturia for Good
To prevent or stop nocturia, you should avoid drinking fluids late at night.
Try finishing your last glass of water at least an hour before bed.
The same goes for alcohol, hot chocolate, soda, tea, and anything else.
Alcohol, coffee, and tea are the worst because all types of alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, meaning they increase the need to urinate even more — not to mention caffeine is a stimulant.
People with persistent nocturia should see a doctor to rule out other possible underlying conditions.
When’s the Best Time to Drink Water?
Daytime is the best time to drink a lot of water.
Make sure to drink plenty throughout the day to prevent dehydration and avoid drinking too much at night.
To avoid waking up at night, don’t drink water or fluids within an hour before bed.
Depending on your activity level, hot climate, or if you're pregnant, you may need to drink more water.
Here’s a few quick hydration hacks to leave you with:
- Increase your vegetable and fruit intake because they contain a high percentage of water
- Have a glass of water with each meal when hungry because thirst can be confused with hunger
- Drink water before and after exercise
If drinking water before bed has resulted in erratic symptoms, consult your doctor or a dietitian.
They can advise you on how much water is best for your diet and overall health.
For the cleanest water for you and your family, consider installing a filter in your home.
Cloud Water reverse osmosis filters remove up to 99.9% of harmful toxins and make water taste great.
