They say that being constantly hydrated is linked to a reduced risk for developing heart failure. This was a statement made by the researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers have looked into the importance of hydration and their findings suggest how the consumption of the required amounts of fluids regularly supports the vital body functioning. More importantly, they now see that drinking fluids could also lower the chances of severe heart problems as you get older.
It has been stated that heart failure is a chronic condition that comes about when the heart does not pump enough blood all throughout the body. This condition affects more than 6.2 million people in the U.S., which is a little more than 2 percent of the entire population. The problem is also more prevalent among those who are 65 years old and older.
“Similar to reducing salt intake, drinking enough water and staying hydrated are ways to support our hearts and may help reduce long-term risks for heart disease,” said Natalia Dmitrieva, Ph.D. She is the lead study author and a researcher in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is part of NIH.
Dmitrieva and her team of researchers studied for similar associations in large-scale population studies after they had done a preclinical research that suggested the link between dehydration and cardiac fibrosis. The latter is the hardening of the heart muscles,. At the very beginning of the study, they set out to analyze the data that came from more than 15,000 adults, ages 45 to 66 years old. They were all enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study between 1987 to 1989. They also consistently divulged information from medical visits over a 25-year timeframe.
When they chose the participants for the retrospective review they had arranged, the scientists honed in on those with hydration levels of a normal range. These participants also didn’t suffer from diabetes, obesity, or heart failure when the study began. An estimated 11,814 adults were part of the final analysis, and, among them, the researchers found 1,366 (11.56 percent) had eventually developed heart failure.
To see if this was somehow connected to hydration, the team assessed the status of their participants with the use of different clinical measures. They first looked at the serum sodium, which is what increases as the body’s fluid levels go down. This was very helpful in assisting them identify the increased risk for developing heart failure in the participants. It also helped them identify the older portion of the participants that have an increased risk for developing both heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy, which is an enlargement and thickening of the heart.
Hydration is Essential
With the hydration numbers, adults with serum sodium levels starting at 143 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), which a normal range is 135-146 mEq/L, during midlife had a 39 percent associated increased risk for heart failure development. They compared this to those with lower levels. For every 1 mEq/L increase in serum sodium within the normal range of 135-146 mEq/L, the chances of an emerging heart failure is increased by 5 percent.
In a group of around 5,000 adults between the ages 70 to 90 years old, those with serum sodium levels of 142.5-143 mEq/L at middle age had a 62 percent likelihood of developing left ventricular hypertrophy. Serum sodium levels starting at 143 mEq/L was linked to a 102 percent increased risk for left ventricular hypertrophy and a 54 percent increased risk for heart failure.
With the data collected above, the authors came to the conclusion that serum sodium levels above 142 mEq/L in middle age were linked to increased risks for developing left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure in the latter part of their lives.
A randomized, controlled trial is needed for them to confirm these preliminary findings, the researchers stated. Still, these early links somehow indicate that good hydration does help prevent or slow the progression of changes within the heart, many of which could bring about heart failure.
“Serum sodium and fluid intake can easily be assessed in clinical exams and help doctors identify patients who may benefit from learning about ways to stay hydrated,” said Manfred Boehm, M.D. He leads the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine.
It’s known that fluids are a necessary part of life and are important for a variety of bodily functions. These include assisting the heart pump blood more efficiently, reinforcing blood vessel function, and properly managing circulation. Sadly, many out there still don’t consume what they need, the researchers said.
While fluid guidelines can be different as these are based on the needs of the body, the researchers recommended the following: a daily fluid intake of 6 to 8 cups (1.5 to 2.1 liters) for women and 8 to 12 cups (2 to 3 liters) for men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has further tips that support the belief on healthy hydration.
This research has been published in European Heart Journal.
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