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You may know that adequate hydration is important for everyday bodily functions. that’s why Regulates body temperature and maintains skin health.
But drinking enough water is also associated with a significantly lower risk of developing chronic disease, dying prematurely, or becoming biologically older than your chronological age, according to eBioMedicine on Monday. According to a National Institutes of Health study published in the journal
“The results suggest that adequate hydration may slow aging and prolong disease-free living,” said the Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine Research at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of the NIH. said study author Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher at the Institute. in a news release.
Knowing what preventive measures can slow the aging process is “a major challenge in preventive medicine,” the authors said in the study. “Chronic diseases associated with aging” are on the rise. Extending healthy life expectancy not only helps treat disease, but also improves quality of life and reduces medical costs.
Based on previous similar studies in mice, the authors reasoned that optimal hydration may slow the aging process. It increased serum sodium in mice by 5 millimoles per liter and shortened lifespan by 6 months. This corresponds to about 15 years of human life. Serum sodium can be measured in the blood and increases as fluid intake decreases.
Using health data collected from 11,255 black and white adults over a 30-year period from the Atherosclerosis Risk Study in the Community (ARIC), the research team determined that adult serum sodium levels were at the upper end of the normal range. I discovered something. (mEq/L) — gave worse results than those at the lower end of the range. Data collection began in 1987 when the participant was in her 40s or 50s, and the mean age of participants at the final evaluation during the study period was 76 years.
Adults with levels above 142 mEq/L were 10% to 15% more likely to be biologically older than their chronological age compared to participants in the 137 to 142 mEq/L range. rice field.higher participants The risk of aging faster was also associated with a 64% higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes and dementia.
Those with levels above 144 mEq/L also had a 50% higher risk of becoming biologically old and a 21% higher risk of premature death. On the other hand, adults with serum sodium concentrations between 138 and 140 mEq/L had the lowest risk of developing chronic disease.
“This study adds observational evidence that strengthens the potential long-term benefits of improved hydration on reducing long-term health outcomes, including mortality,” said Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham University. Associate Epidemiologist Dr. Howard Sesso said. and an email to Boston Women’s Hospital. Sesso was not involved in the research.
However, “it would have been nice to be able to combine a definition of hydration based solely on serum sodium levels with actual water intake data from the ARIC cohort,” added Sesso.
Biological age was determined by biomarkers that measure the performance of various organ systems and processes, including cardiovascular, renal (kidney-related), respiratory, metabolic, immune, and inflammatory biomarkers.
High serum sodium levels were not the only factor associated with risk of disease, premature death, and aging. The risk was also higher in people with low serum sodium levels.
The findings are consistent with previous reports of increased mortality and cardiovascular disease in people with low normal sodium levels due to diseases that cause electrolyte problems, the authors said.
Although the study analyzed participants over time, the results do not prove a causal relationship between serum sodium levels and these health outcomes, the authors say. they added, but the results could help doctors identify and guide at-risk patients.
“People with serum sodium above 142 mEq/L would benefit from assessing fluid intake,” said Dmitrieva.
Sesso notes that the study doesn’t strongly address accelerated aging: “It’s a complex concept that we’re just beginning to understand.”
“There are two main reasons for this,” says Sesso. The study’s authors said, “We relied on a combination of 15 measures for accelerated aging, which is one of many definitions for which there is no consensus. Second, hydration and aging.” Their data on acceleration are “snapshots” and have no way of understanding cause and effect.
About half of people worldwide do not meet their total daily fluid intake recommendations, according to several studies cited by the authors of the new study.
“On a global level, this could have a huge impact,” Dmitrieva said in a news release. “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
Our serum sodium levels are affected by fluid intake from water, other fluids, and fruits and vegetables with high water content.
“The most striking finding is that this risk[of chronic disease and aging]is also evident in individuals with serum sodium levels at the high end of the ‘normal range,'” said university professor Dr. Richard Johnson. says. By e-mail at the Colorado Medical College. He was not involved in research.
“This challenges the question of what is really normal and supports the notion that as a population we are probably not drinking enough water.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, your body is made up of more than 50% water, which is necessary for multiple functions, including digesting food, making hormones and neurotransmitters, and supplying oxygen throughout your body.
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) recommends women drink 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of fluid daily and men drink 3.7 liters (125 ounces) daily. This recommendation includes all water and water-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and soups. The average water intake ratio of water to food is about 80:20, which translates to 9 cups per day for women and 12 ½ cups for men.
People with health conditions should consult their doctor for proper fluid intake.
“The goal is to make sure patients are getting enough fluids while evaluating factors such as medications that can lead to water loss,” said the director of the Institute for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Manfred Boehm, co-author of the study, said in a news release. “Physicians may also need to follow the patient’s current treatment regimen, including limiting fluid intake for heart failure.”
If you’re having trouble staying hydrated, you may need help incorporating habits into your regular routine. Try keeping a glass of water by your bedside to drink when you wake up, or drink it while you’re brewing your morning coffee. BJ Fogg, PhD, a behavioral science expert and founder and director of the Stanford University Behavioral Design Lab, previously told CNN.