Health

Not drinking enough water floods your body with harmful stress hormones

Published

7 months ago

August 25, 2025

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Not drinking enough water floods your body with harmful stress hormones

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A new study found that hydration is key when it comes to managing stress.

People who drink less than seven cups, or 1.5 liters, of water per day have a cortisol response to stress that is 50% higher than those who meet water intake recommendations.

Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) published the study in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

WEARABLE HYDRATION MONITOR COULD HELP PREVENT HEATSTROKE, SCIENTISTS SAY

Out of 62 healthy males and females, 32 participants were selected with both habitual low fluid intake and habitual high fluid intake.

Subjects who typically drank less than 1.5 liters of fluid per day were considered the “low-fluid” group, while the “high-fluid” group comprised people who drank the recommended amount of two liters for women and 2.5 for men.

New study reveals people drinking less than 1.5 liters of water daily show 50% higher cortisol stress responses than those meeting hydration recommendations. (iStock)

The participants’ fluid intake was monitored over seven days by testing the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and hydration markers with blood and urine.

The study found that drinking too little water increased stress-related health issues for both men and women.

Professor Neil Walsh, study lead at LJMU’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, said in a press release that keeping a water bottle nearby during stress-related times can have potential benefits for your long-term health.

‘HYDRATION BOOSTERS’ OR JUST WATER? MEDICAL EXPERTS MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BEATING THE SUMMER HEAT

“Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone and exaggerated cortisol reactivity to stress is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and depression,” said Walsh.

A study team member, Dr. Daniel Kashi, said in a release that “both groups felt equally anxious and experienced similar increases in heart rate during the stress test.”

An important observation was that poor hydration was associated with greater cortisol reactivity to the stress test. (iStock)

He added that “only the ‘low-fluid’ group showed a significant increase in saliva cortisol in response to the stress test.”

“Although the low-fluid group did not report being thirstier than the high fluid group, they had darker and more concentrated urine, clear signs of poor hydration,” said Kashi.

“An important observation was that poor hydration was associated with greater cortisol reactivity to the stress test. Exaggerated cortisol reactivity to stress has been associated with poor long-term health,” Kashi added.

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Long-term dehydration can lead to more serious health issues such as kidney damage and failure, anxiety and depression, heart problems, and diabetes, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Dehydration triggers the release of the vasopressin hormone, which puts pressure on the kidneys, making it harder to concentrate urine and manage electrolyte balance.

Researchers suggest that monitoring urine color is a good way for people to check their hydration status. (iStock)

“Vasopressin also acts on the brain’s stress-response cent[er]” influencing where it can release of cortisol,” according to the LJMU release.

The release added, “This dual role [of] vasopressin helps maintain blood volume and electrolyte balance but also increases cortisol.”

While researchers found that water intake recommendations should be followed, additional research and further long-term studies are needed.

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Researchers suggest that monitoring urine color is a good way for people to check their hydration status.

Light yellow urine color typically indicates good hydration.

“Being hydrated may help your body manage stress more effectively,” he said.

Ashley J. DiMella is a Lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.

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Health

Another state bans ‘gas station heroin’ as officials warn of deadly risks

Published

2 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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Another state bans ‘gas station heroin’ as officials warn of deadly risks

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Conversation-starters

→ March Madness sparks surprising surge in men’s sexual procedure

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→ ‘Call a Boomer’ payphones help cure loneliness across generations

Along a bustling sidewalk in Boston, a bright yellow payphone invites folks to “Call a Boomer.” (Matter Neuroscience)

Food for thought

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This article was written by Fox News staff.

Health

Dementia risk signals could lie in simple blood pressure readings, researchers say

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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Dementia risk signals could lie in simple blood pressure readings, researchers say

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Simple measurements taken during routine blood pressure checks could predict dementia risk years before symptoms appear.

That’s according to new research presented this week at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in Louisiana.

The findings draw on two studies led by researchers at Georgetown University, which suggest that monitoring how blood vessels age and stiffen over time can provide a window into future cognitive health.

LURKING DEMENTIA RISK EXPOSED BY BREAKTHROUGH TEST 25 YEARS BEFORE SYMPTOMS

Data shows rates of dementia and aging-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as populations age, and half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure (hypertension).

Scientists believe that efforts to better address hypertension, a key contributor to heart disease and a risk factor for dementia, could affect both cardiac and brain health.

Data shows rates of dementia and aging-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as populations age. Meanwhile, half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure. (iStock)

“Blood pressure management isn’t just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it may also be one of the most actionable strategies for preserving cognitive health,” Dr. Newton Nyirenda, the study’s lead author and an epidemiologist at Georgetown University in Washington, said in a press release.

The research focused on two metrics, the pulse pressure-heart rate index and estimated pulse wave velocity. Both were calculated using data collected during standard doctor visits, such as heart rate, age and blood pressure.

“Blood pressure management isn’t just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it may also be one of the most actionable strategies for preserving cognitive health.”

Researchers examined five years of data patterns for more than 8,500 people in the SPRINT trial, a large study of adults 50 years and older with hypertension. In the follow-up, 323 of the participants developed probable dementia.

HIDDEN BRAIN CONDITION MAY QUADRUPLE DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY SUGGESTS

In one study, the team found the pulse pressure-heart rate index was a strong independent predictor of dementia risk in adults over 50. For participants under 65, every one-unit increase was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia.

For participants under 65, an increase in the pulse pressure-heart rate index was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia. (iStock)

The second study found that adults with consistently elevated or rapidly increasing pulse wave velocity were more likely to develop dementia than those with stable velocity, even after accounting for factors like smoking, gender and cardiovascular history.

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“Our findings suggest that vascular aging patterns may provide meaningful insight into future dementia risk,” said Nyirenda. “This reinforces the idea that managing vascular health earlier in life may influence long-term brain health.”

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The team emphasized that clinicians should tailor risk assessments and treatment strategies to the individual.

Further studies are needed to confirm these parameters and determine whether changing vascular aging trajectories reduces dementia risk. (iStock)

“You don’t want to wait until a patient starts manifesting cognitive decline before you act,” said senior study author Sula Mazimba, an associate professor at the University of Virginia.

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Researchers noted the study could not establish causation. Other limitations included the fact that participants already had hypertension and elevated cardiovascular risk, meaning the findings may not apply to people without those conditions.

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Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine whether improving blood vessel health over time could reduce dementia risk.

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.

Health

Everything You Need To Know About Zepbound for Weight Loss, Including Costs

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

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Everything You Need To Know About Zepbound for Weight Loss, Including Costs

What Is Zepbound? Weight-Loss Benefits, Costs and Dosage

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