Does smoking weed dehydrate you? Some people wonder about this question after their mouth begins to feel dry after a weed session with their friends.
Does smoking weed dehydrate you? This question is becoming more and more common, and a lot of people are nervous about smoking cannabis because they’ve heard that it dehydrates you, but this myth can be debunked by looking at the facts.
In fact, smoking weed does not necessarily cause dehydration, as long as you consume enough fluids afterward to counterbalance what you have lost. Whether or not weed dehydrates you also depends on your body type and how much water-rich food you eat throughout the day.
What Is Dehydration?
When your body doesn’t have enough water to perform its regular processes, dehydration sets in. Dehydration prevents your body from producing adequate perspiration, which prevents you from cooling off. Additionally, you could find it difficult to urinate, and your pee probably looks darker than usual. Dehydration can also cause headaches, vertigo, and weariness. Dehydration can be fatal in extreme circumstances.
Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe. Dehydration typically occurs when you have diarrhea or vomiting for more than 48 hours. Other causes include excessive sweating, certain medications, and alcohol abuse.
The Science Behind This Myth
It’s a common belief that smoking cannabis can dehydrate your body, but is there any science to back this up? Let’s take a look at what the research says.
Some studies have found increased heart rate and dry mouth among people who smoke weed, but these side effects are temporary and don’t lead to dehydration. One study found no significant difference in hydration levels between smokers and non-smokers after four hours of being awake.
The evidence suggests that smoking weed doesn’t actually dehydrate you. The only way it could be bad for you is if you were already prone to problems with fluid retention, like someone with kidney disease or congestive heart failure might be.
However, if you’ve had any concerns about this topic and want to stay healthy, then it’s always best not to overdo it on the munchies! If you’re going to indulge in some chips, chocolate bars, ice cream or french fries, just make sure they’re not more than 15% of your daily calorie intake – around 250 calories worth per day. And remember: stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Be mindful of where the nearest bathroom is when you’re high, so you won’t have to leave your group because nature calls unexpectedly. Drink a lot before and after getting high; don’t try to wait out any thirst pangs.
Don’t forget: while marijuana itself doesn’t seem to dehydrate you, the act of smoking anything still takes away from your breathable air supply – so keep a cigarette lighter or two (or ten) handy if outdoors!
How To Stay Hydrated When Smoking Weed
Smoking weed is a dry affair. It can sometimes leave you feeling dehydrated, especially if you’re smoking it in a hot environment or if you’ve been smoking for hours on end.
When you smoke weed, you’re consuming THC and other cannabinoids, which are fat-soluble compounds that need to be dissolved in fat before they can be absorbed by your body. This means that while vaporizing will cause less damage to your lungs than smoking, it still isn’t good for them.
If you’re planning on getting high and then going out on the town, it’s important to stay hydrated while indulging in your favorite pastime. Here are some tips for staying hydrated when smoking weed:
Drink water or other non-alcoholic beverages before smoking so that your body has time to absorb the fluids before you get high.
If you have a bottle of water with you while smoking, take sips every so often to keep yourself from getting thirsty later on. Don’t drink too much at once though — otherwise, all that liquid will just slosh around in your stomach and make nausea worse.
If the weather is hot outside (or if there’s no air conditioning inside), try drinking ice water or even lemonade instead of ice.
What are The Effects of Consuming Marijuana On Our Water Intake
Marijuana is a drug that contains THC, which increases the appetite. An increased appetite can cause people to want to eat more, and that can end up leading to a dry mouth and thirst. As a result of this, people who use marijuana may experience an increase in their water intake.
What Does Weed Do To The Brain?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that consuming marijuana affects the brain’s reward system by releasing dopamine, which makes us feel good when we do something that is considered rewarding like eating or having sex. This explains why some people get high after smoking marijuana.
Marijuana also affects our body’s ability to regulate the amount of water it needs. Some studies suggest that marijuana users tend to drink less water than non-users because they have lower thirst levels and may not feel thirsty as often as usual. This could lead to dehydration and other health problems if not taken care of properly, but weed in itself doesn’t actually dehydrate you.
Sometimes cannabis users reach for the alcohol instead of the water, and this can lead to further dehydration.
According to a study done by Dr. Satinder Chera at McLeod Health in Florence SC, people who smoke marijuana are more likely to drink more alcohol than those who don’t smoke pot. “People who use marijuana are more likely to drink heavily,” said Chera. “It’s not surprising because marijuana has been shown to increase the risk of developing alcohol dependence.”
What Happens If I Don’t Drink Enough Water While Consuming Weed?
If you don’t drink enough water while consuming weed, you may experience some negative side effects. These can include dry mouth, thirst, cottonmouth, and dehydration. While these symptoms are usually not serious, they can be uncomfortable and unpleasant.
To avoid them, make sure to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after consuming cannabis. Try drinking at least 8 ounces of water every two hours when smoking or vaping. And if you consume edibles, it’s important to stay hydrated by drinking liquids throughout the day.
How To Tell You Have Dehydration
Dehydration happens when you lose more fluids than you take in. It’s easy to avoid dehydration by ensuring that you drink plenty of fluids, such as water and other clear liquids every day.
The suggested amount of fluids each day is different depending on who you ask, but people should strive for around 15 cups every day. This is more than just juice and sodas — it also includes water, tea, milk, and any other beverages you drink.
If your pee looks dark yellow or cloudy, light yellow, or beige; this means that your body isn’t getting enough fluids.
Other signs that you need to drink more include:
- Feel thirsty all the time
- Don’t feel refreshed after drinking water
- Have dark yellow urine
- Have dry mouth or eyes (no tears)
- Have pale and/or sunken skin
- Feel dizzy when getting up from sitting or lying down
- You have a headache
- You’re feeling weak
Final Thoughts
So does smoking weed dehydrate you? The final conclusion is that, despite the fact that cannabis may seem to have a diuretic effect in certain individuals, this impact is not strong enough to result in dehydration. Cannabis use, however, may make you forget to remain hydrated if you are already dehydrated. Therefore, if you’re going to smoke, make sure you drink a lot of water first. And if you’re thirsty after smoking, hydrate yourself!
