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Does water before bed help sleep?

Bottom Line. While there are benefits to drinking water before bed, it can be disruptive to your sleep, as it can lead to frequent nighttime wakings to urinate. If you feel very thirsty before bed, you may want to drink a small glass of water to help you get through the night.

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Drinking Water Before Bed Written by Danielle Pacheco, Staff Writer Danielle Pacheco Staff Writer Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia. Read Full Bio Want to read more about all our experts in the field? Learn About The Editorial Team Fact Checked Learn More Sleep Foundation Fact-Checking: Our Process At Sleep Foundation, we personally test every product featured in our reviews and guides. This hands-on approach allows us to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations for mattresses, pillows, sheets, and other sleep essentials. Guidelines for our testing methodology are as follows: We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners. All scientific data and information must be backed up by at least one reputable source. Each guide and article includes a comprehensive bibliography with full citations and links to the original sources. Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information. A member of our medical expert team provides a final review of the content and sources cited for every guide, article, and product review concerning medical- and health-related topics. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication. Plagiarism is never tolerated. Writers and editors caught stealing content or improperly citing sources are immediately terminated, and we will work to rectify the situation with the original publisher(s) Although Sleep Foundation maintains affiliate partnerships with brands and e-commerce portals, these relationships never have any bearing on our product reviews or recommendations. Read our full Advertising Disclosure for more information. Our team of writers, editors, and medical experts rigorously evaluates each article to ensure the information is accurate and exclusively cites reputable sources. We regularly assess how the content in this article aligns with current scientific literature and expert recommendations in order to provide the most up-to-date research. Some people find that drinking a glass of water before bed helps them sleep, but for others, this habit may cause sleep issues. We explore the science behind hydration and sleep to help you decide what is best for you.

How Does Drinking Water Before Bed Impact Sleep?

Although our bodies are programmed to slow urine production Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. See Full Reference during sleep, excessive fluid intake may push you past this threshold and cause nighttime bathroom trips that interfere with sleep. You are more likely to wake up to urinate if you are already sleeping poorly, for example due to stress or a sleep disorder. Going short on sleep also seems to contribute to dehydration Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference , indicating the two processes are intricately connected. It is not uncommon to feel thirsty right before going to bed. In fact, a study in mice showed that the tendency to drink more in the evening might be a natural part of the sleep-wake cycle, in order to prevent becoming dehydrated overnight Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . Although mild dehydration does not appear to directly impact sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference for otherwise healthy people, staying hydrated supports systems in the body that do impact your sleep.

Benefits of Drinking Water Before Bed

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Water is an essential nutrient Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. See Full Reference for the human body, helping to remove waste, lubricate the joints, regulate body temperature, and cushion sensitive tissues. Although recommendations vary Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference , the general consensus is that adults should drink between 2.5 and 4.5 liters of water Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference a day depending on their body weight and level of activity. This can be in the form of plain water, or it can come through fruit, herbal teas, or other fluids. Drinking water also helps prevent headaches Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference and enables sweating Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference to keep us cool. If you live in a warmer climate, then you are more likely to sweat during the night, which can eventually result in dehydration. Drinking water before bed might help ward off dehydration Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference while you sleep, and it may also help you attain the drop in core body temperature Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference that helps induce sleepiness. There are certain other cases when it may be helpful to drink water before bed. For some, hot water may form part of a relaxing bedtime routine. If you have a cold or a flu, a glass of hot water might help relieve symptoms Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference so you can get some rest. Breathing through your mouth causes you to lose more water than breathing through your nose Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference , so people with nasal congestion might drink water to replenish the lost fluids.

Things to Consider About Drinking Water Before Bed

Despite the benefits of staying hydrated throughout the day, drinking water right before bed may cause sleep problems for some people.

Nocturia

Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate more than once is called nocturia Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . Nocturia can disrupt the sleep cycle, and as a result it has been linked to reduced productivity, falls and accidents, and depression. Drinking too much water before bed contributes to nocturia, especially for people with certain conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes, or those who are taking diuretic medicines.

You can reduce the chances of nocturia by:

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Reducing fluid intake in the evening

Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks before sleep

Asking your doctor if you can try taking your diuretic medications in the morning Recording how much fluid you drink each night, including watery foods such as fruit, may help you identify connections between fluid intake and nighttime urination. If you still need nighttime bathroom visits after reducing the water you drink in the evening, talk to your doctor.

Bedwetting

As part of a multifaceted treatment plan, reducing fluid intake in the evening may help reduce episodes of bedwetting Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. See Full Reference . Whether or not you experience bedwetting, it is a good idea to empty the bladder one last time right before going to sleep.

Bottom Line

While there are benefits to drinking water before bed, it can be disruptive to your sleep, as it can lead to frequent nighttime wakings to urinate. If you feel very thirsty before bed, you may want to drink a small glass of water to help you get through the night. However, the ideal is to stay hydrated throughout the day so you do not need to drink excessive amounts of water at bedtime. You may want to consider avoiding excessively salty, sweet, or spicy foods before bed so you do not feel too thirsty. It is particularly important to drink more water if you notice symptoms of dehydration Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. See Full Reference such as thirst, dry mouth or skin, or dark urine. Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature to prevent excessive sweating, and talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about nighttime urination or water intake. They may be able to identify and help you treat an underlying condition. If you're ready for more ⟶ sign up to receive our email newsletter! Your privacy is important to us. Thanks for the feedback - we're glad you found our work instructive! Was this article helpful? Yes No Thanks for the feedback - we're glad you found our work instructive! Submitting your Answer... About Our Editorial Team Danielle Pacheco Staff Writer Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia.

sleepfoundation.org - Drinking Water Before Bed - Sleep Foundation

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