We’ve often heard that staying hydrated is good for health, however, now a new study reveals that being hydrated during middle age could lower the risk of developing heart failure later in life.
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The study looked at over 11,000 adults aged 45 to 66 and looked at their data for 25 years. To gauge their hydration levels, researchers looked at sodium levels in the participant’s blood that increases as a person’s fluid levels drop.
The normal range for serum sodium is 135 to 146 millimoles per litre — any higher and it would trigger a person’s body to start conserving water and vice versa.
Researchers saw that people with serum sodium levels on the higher end of the normal range had a 39 percent increased risk of developing heart failure over the intervening 25 years compared to those who had lower serum sodium levels.
They said in the study, “Middle age serum sodium above 142 mmol is a risk factor for LVH (Left ventricular failure) and HF. Maintaining good hydration throughout life may slow down the decline in cardiac function and decrease the prevalence of HF (heart failure).”
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These results remained constant even after factoring in conditions that could affect people’s risk of heart failure, including their age, sex, body mass index, cholesterol levels, smoking habits etc.
Despite this, the study only found an association between higher serum sodium levels and heart failure — a randomised controlled trial in which people are randomly assigned to drink more water is needed to confirm the hypothesis, said study authors.
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