We are asked to do this on a regular basis Drink plenty of water to keep our health. A new study provides some other good reasons to stay hydrated — including fewer chronic health problems and a greater chance of living longer.
This is based on a study of 11,255 adults who were interviewed five times over the course of 25 years about factors such as socioeconomic status and family medical history.
Clinical testing on the volunteers provided measurements of sodium in their blood serum, which was used as an indicator of their fluid intake. Normally, the more water we drink, the lower the sodium levels in our bloodstream.
“Results suggest that adequate hydration may slow aging and prolong disease-free life,” says researcher Natalia Dmitrievafrom the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in Maryland.
previous research has highlighted a link between higher blood sodium levels and an increased risk of heart failure. The normal range of sodium levels in a person’s blood is usually between 125 and 146 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). In the study, serum samples with higher levels of sodium were also more likely to contain elevated levels of up to 15 different markers of biological health and aging.
For example, those with sodium levels above 142 mEq/L had a 10 to 15 percent associated increased likelihood of being biologically older than their chronological age compared to those with more typical ranges. There was also a 64 percent greater associated risk of developing chronic diseases, including heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, chronic lung disease, diabetesand dementia.
The study authors suggest that measuring blood sodium levels could inform the advice of doctors. Those in the danger zone when it comes to fluid intake could take steps to get more water into their system—not just through drinking, but through juices, vegetables, and fruits as well.
“The goal is to ensure patients are getting enough fluids, while also evaluating factors such as medications that can lead to fluid loss,” says lead investigator Manfred Böhmfrom the NHLBI.
“Physicians may also need to refer to a patient’s current treatment plan, e.g. B. Limiting fluid intake in heart failure.”
The researchers emphasize that their method cannot prove that the volunteers’ hydration is primarily responsible for increasing their chances of good health. Randomized controlled trials are better suited for this, although we are already seeing an association that is worth investigating further.
Fluid intake isn’t the only factor affecting blood sodium levels, either, although the researchers controlled for variables like age, race and biological sex, and excluded study participants with conditions like diabetes or habits like smoking that could affect their sodium levels.
It should also be noted that this study focuses more on the health risks of dehydration than additional benefits of staying hydrated – although the two will of course be linked to some extent.
At the moment about half of the world’s population don’t get that far as the recommended daily dose (which usually starts at around 1.5 liters per day). There are various reasons for this, not the least of which is access to clean drinking water. Ensuring that all communities have a clean drinking water supply nearby should be the number one priority to keep everyone healthy.
For those with many options, increasing this proportion could greatly improve the risk of morbidity and mortality.
“On a global scale, this can have major implications,” says Dmitrieva. “Decreased body water is the most common factor that increases serum sodium, so the results suggest that staying hydrated can slow the aging process and prevent or delay chronic disease.”
The research was published in eBiomedicine.
