In a report released Thursday, November 8, adults who sleep just six hours per night, not the recommended eight hours, may have a higher chance of being dehydrated.
These findings suggested that people who don't feel well after a night's sleep should consider dehydration as a cause and are advised to drink more water. The results of this study were published in the journal titled "Sleep."
Researchers looked at how sleep affects the hydration status in the United States and Chinese adults. In both countries, adults who sleep six hours had significantly more concentrated urine and 16-59 percent higher odds of being inadequately hydrated compared to adults who slept the recommended eight hours on a regular basis.
According to the researchers, the cause was linked to the way how our bodies' hormonal system regulates hydration. Vasopressin, a hormone in our body, is released to help regulate the hydration status of the body. It is known to be released throughout the day and during sleeping time.
"Vasopressin is released both more quickly and later on in the sleep cycle," said lead author Asher Rosinger. "So, if you're waking up earlier, you might miss that window in which more of the hormone is released, causing a disruption in the body's hydration."
"If you are only getting six hours of sleep a night, it can affect your hydration status," Rosinger said. "This study suggests that if you're not getting enough sleep, and you feel bad or tired the next day, drink extra water."
Dehydration affects our body systems and functions which included mood, cognition, physical performance, and many others. Long-term or chronic dehydration may lead to serious problems like urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
