Drinking plenty of water can help reduce the effects of aging

Miami – We all know that drinking water is important for staying hydrated when it’s hot outside or exercising.

Water is essential for daily bodily function and skin health.

But drinking enough water can lead to developing chronic diseases, dying prematurely and making you biologically older than your actual age, according to a study released Monday by the National Institutes of Health. It is also associated with a significantly lower risk.

“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 NIH. Study author Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher at the Institute, said: 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. “Age-dependent chronic diseases” 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 over 30 years from 11,255 black and white adults from the Atherosclerosis Risk Study in the Community (ARIC), the research team determined that serum sodium levels were at the high end of the normal range. found an adult. This he is 135-146 meq/l. (mEq/L) – gave worse results than those at the lower end of the range. Data collection he he started in 1987 when the participant was in her 40s or 50s, and the mean age of the participants at the final evaluation during the study period was her 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. Participants at higher risk of aging also had 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 levels of 142 mEq/L or higher would benefit from assessing fluid intake,” said Dmitrieva.

Sesso says the study doesn’t strongly address accelerated aging, saying, “It’s a complex concept that we’re just beginning to understand.”

“There are two main reasons for this,” says Sesso. The authors of the study said, “We relied on a combination of 15 measures for accelerated aging, which is one of many definitions without consensus. data was a “snapshot” of time, so there is no way to understand cause and effect. ”

drink enough water every day
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.

“At a global level, this could have a significant impact,” Dmitrieva said in a news release. Results suggest that staying hydrated slows the aging process and may prevent or delay chronic disease.”

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 evident even in individuals with serum sodium levels at the high end of the ‘normal range,'” says university professor Richard Johnson. said in an email from 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 known as the Institute of Medicine) recommends that women drink 91 ounces of fluid daily and men drink 125 ounces of fluid 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 equates 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, but to assess factors that can lead to fluid loss, such as medications,” said co-author of the study, Cardiovascular Medicine. Dr. Manfred Boehm, Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 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. Lock your hydration habits where you are several times a day.