We are regularly told to drink plenty of water to stay healthy. New research shows some good reasons to stay well hydrated, including fewer chronic health conditions and a better chance of living longer.
It is based on a survey of 11,255 adults who were asked five questions over 25 years about factors such as socioeconomic status and family medical history.
A clinical trial in volunteers provided measurements of sodium in the serum and used it as an indicator of water intake.
“The results suggest that proper hydration may slow aging and prolong disease-free living,” says research scientist Natalia of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in Maryland. Dmitrieva says
Previous studies have highlighted the link between elevated blood sodium levels and an increased risk of heart failure. The normal range of sodium concentration in human blood is usually 125 to 146 milliequivalents/liter (mEq/L). The study found that serum samples with high sodium levels were also more likely to have elevated levels of up to 15 different markers of biological health and aging.
For example, people with sodium levels above 142 mEq/L were 10-15% more likely to be biologically older than their chronological age compared to those with more typical ranges. They also had a 64% higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, chronic lung disease, diabetes and dementia.
The study’s authors suggest that measuring sodium levels in the blood may provide advice from doctors. People who are in the danger zone when it comes to hydration can take steps to not only drink, but to get more water into their bodies from juices, vegetables, fruits, etc.
Manfred Boehm, principal investigator at the NHLBI, said: “The goal is to make sure patients are getting enough fluids, while also assessing factors that can lead to fluid loss, such as medications. ‘ said.
“Physicians may also need to follow the patient’s current treatment regimen, including limiting fluid intake for heart failure.”
The researchers stress that their method cannot prove that hydration is the primary cause of increased chances of staying healthy in volunteers. , we have already seen some relevance worthy of further investigation.
Water intake is not the only factor that affects sodium levels in the blood, but researchers controlled for variables such as age, race, and biological sex, and controlled for study participants with conditions such as diabetes and habits such as smoking. excluded a person. May affect sodium levels.
It’s also worth pointing out that this study focused on the health risks of dehydration and the positive effects of staying well hydrated.
Currently, about half of the world’s population is not getting the recommended daily intake (usually starting at about 1.5 liters per day). There are many reasons for this, but access to clean drinking water is particularly important. Ensuring that every community has clean drinking water on hand is a top priority to keep everyone healthy.
For people with many options, increasing that percentage can make a big difference to their risk of illness and death.
“At a global level, this could have a huge impact,” says Dmitrieva. “Dehydration is the most common factor in increasing serum sodium. Therefore, our results suggest that maintaining adequate hydration may slow the aging process and prevent or delay chronic disease.” It is suggested from
This research eBio Medicine.