Can dehydration lead to stroke, as mentioned by Zerodha's Nithin Kamath?

Dehydration a dangerous loss of body fluid can be a significant contributing factor for suffering a stroke said doctors on Tuesday after Zerodha cofounder and CEO Nithin Kamath cited it as a possible reason behind his recent strokeIn a post on X Kamath on Monday revealed he suffered a mild stroke around six weeks ago Besides poor sleep and exhaustion he said dehydration could be a reasonAround six weeks ago I had a mild stroke out of the blue Dad passing away poor sleep exhaustion dehydration and overworking out any of these could be possible reasonsrdquo he posted Kamath said that he is on the path to recoveryWhile dehydration isnt the direct cause of stroke it can be a contributing factor mainly in cerebral venous strokes rather than arterial strokes Guruprasad Hosurkar Additional Director Neurology Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road Bengaluru told IANSDehydration involves losing more fluids from our bodies than what is gained thereby causing an electrolyte imbalance in the body hence affecting various body functions One of the least known effects of severe dehydration is that it possibly increases chances for stroke development said Koulsoum Houssein full time consultant Holy Family Hospital BandraAlso Read Dangal actor Suhani Bhatnagarrsquos demise spurs efforts to raise awareness about autoimmune diseases DoctorsThe health experts explained that dehydration leads to thickening of blood which slows blood flow to the organs including brain which in turn can increase the risk of blood clot formation and cause strokeDuring episodes of dehydration blood thickens making it difficult for the heart to effectively pump blood through the arteries This in turn may lead to low blood pressure as well as low supply of blood to the brain insufficient cerebral perfusion thus increasing risks for developing strokes Houssein told IANSDehydration can also make vessels in the brain narrow so much which then reduces flow of blood together with oxygen needed by vital tissues in brain areas Additionally inadequate hydration affects temperature regulation which might result in heat related illnesses stressing out the cardiac system further he notedA large study published in the Lancet journal eBioMedicine last year showed that people who arent hydrated enough may age faster and even have a higher risk for chronic diseases that could result in early death Not consuming enough water can increase the risk of death by 20 per cent it showedStaying hydrated is crucial for overall health including reducing stroke risk said the experts Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day particularly during hot weather or physical activity they saidAlso Read EXCLUSIVE lsquoLonger the life of a food product the sooner your expiry date Revant Himatsingka aka Food PharmerKamath is also known for his fitness advice on social media While he reiterated the need to keep oneself fit the stroke he acknowledged left him questioning why a person whos fit and takes care of himself could be affectedStroke is usually associated with old age and preexisting conditions like hypertension and diabetes however it is essential to note that young people who seem healthy can become stroke victims In this age group apart from dehydration unappreciated cardiovascular conditions as congenital heart diseases or abnormalities in blood supplying vessels to the brain often go unrecognised Houssein explainedDrug abuse trauma or brain injury autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases are other reasons that result in strokes among young and fit personsAlso Read Are vapes really a safer alternative to cigarettesThe doctors stressed the need for regular medical checkups and screenings particularly among those whose family history has incidences of strokes or heart diseases eating a balanced diet exercising regularly maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumptionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever