Alcohol and dehydration are often linked, but the connection is not conclusive. Excessive drinking can lead to dehydration, and the addition of high-caffeine beverages to alcoholic drinks can increase the risk. To avoid complications, drink in moderation and stay hydrated.
Alcohol and dehydration often seem to go hand in hand, and some believe it is a major complicating factor of a hangover. In fact, many attribute many of the uncomfortable feelings associated with a hangover to dehydration. Others believe, however, that a strong connection between alcohol and dehydration has never been conclusively proven. Despite this, most medical professionals warn against excessive alcohol consumption for many reasons, including the risk of dehydration.
The reason alcohol and dehydration can be so commonly associated is because many assume alcohol is a diuretic. A diuretic is anything, especially a drug, that promotes urine formation in the kidney. If a liquid, such as alcohol, encourages more urine output than the ingested liquid, the net result is a case of dehydration. This is backed up by anecdotal evidence suggesting that those who drink more tend to urinate more.
However, not all doctors are convinced that alcohol acts as a diuretic. Some experts believe the connection between alcohol and dehydration, or at least significant dehydration, has never been proven. Rather, they suggest that the feelings associated with a hangover may be caused by other chemical imbalances caused by alcohol and the resulting lack of sleep.
While alcohol is not a diuretic, which is contrary to what most in the medical community believe, the connection between alcohol and dehydration can be made in other ways. Excessive drinking could lead to a case of alcohol poisoning, which often includes nausea and vomiting. Vomiting is responsible for many cases of dehydration each year, as a large amount of fluid is expelled in the process. Therefore, alcohol may be directly or indirectly responsible for abnormal fluid loss.
The connection between alcohol and dehydration has become a special concern in recent years, with the addition of high-caffeine beverages to alcoholic beverages. Just like alcohol, there is still some debate as to whether caffeine is a true diuretic. However, even in the absence of scientific consensus, significantly increasing caffeine and alcohol intake at the same time can put at least some people at greater risk for dehydration.
To avoid alcohol complications and dehydration, a drinker can take a number of precautions. First, always drink in moderation and at a reasonable pace. Second, those planning a night of drinking should make sure they’re well hydrated beforehand and make time during the night to drink water or other soft, caffeine-free beverages.
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