Scientists have discovered that proper levels of hydration may be the key to living a longer, healthier life.
Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that adults who drink enough water are healthier than those who don’t drink enough water and are less likely to develop chronic diseases such as heart and lung disease. They seem to live less and longer.
Using health data collected from 11,255 adults over a 30-year period, researchers analyzed the relationship between serum sodium levels (which rise as water intake decreases) and various indicators of health.
Researchers found that adults with serum sodium levels at the high end of the normal range were more likely to develop chronic disease and show signs of biological aging than those with moderate serum sodium levels. Adults with higher levels were also more likely to die at a younger age.
The findings are published in the journal eBioMedicine.
“The results suggest that adequate hydration may slow aging and prolong disease-free living,” said a study from the Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine Institute at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Author and researcher Natalia Dmitrieva said. ), part of the NIH.
For the analysis, researchers assessed information shared by study participants during five medical visits, the first two in their 50s and the last two in those aged 70-90.
To allow a fair comparison of how hydration correlates with health outcomes, the researchers investigated whether adults with high serum sodium levels at baseline check-in or those with potential effects on serum sodium levels. Adults with underlying medical conditions such as obesity were excluded.
Scientists then evaluated how serum sodium levels correlated with biological aging. This was assessed by 15 health markers. This includes factors such as systolic blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, providing insight into how well each person’s cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, renal and immune systems are functioning. The study also adjusted for factors such as age, race, biological sex, smoking status, and hypertension, the study said.
They found that adults with higher levels of normal serum sodium (with normal ranges ranging from 135 to 146 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)) were more likely to show signs of faster biological aging. It was based on metrics such as metabolic and cardiovascular health, lung function, and inflammation.
For example, adults with serum sodium levels above 142 mEq/L are 10-15% more likely to be biologically older than chronological age compared to those in the range of 137-142 mEq/L, Levels above 144 mEq/L were correlated. with an increase of 50 percent. Similarly, levels of 144.5 to 146 mEq/L were associated with a 21% increased risk of premature death compared to the range of 137 to 142 mEq/L, the study said.
Similarly, adults with serum sodium levels greater than 142 mEq/L have up to a 64% increased associated risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes and dementia. Did. Conversely, adults with serum sodium levels between 138 and 140 mEq/L had the lowest risk of developing chronic disease, the study said.
The findings do not prove causality, the researchers noted. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether optimal hydration can promote healthy aging, prevent disease, and extend lifespan. can provide and guide individual health behaviors.
“The purpose of providing medical guidance is to ensure that patients are getting enough fluids and to assess factors that may lead to fluid loss, such as medications,” said study author Hearthstone. Manfred Boehm, Director of the Institute for Vascular Regenerative Medicine, said. .
“Physicians may also need to follow the patient’s current treatment plan, such as limiting fluid intake for heart failure,” Boehm said.
(This article is not edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
