What is essential to our body? The water. In fact, our body is made up of 50-55% water, water is essential for regulating body temperature and the transit of nutrients inside the cell. Not only that, water promotes digestion and the work of the kidneys and proper hydration makes the brain work well. But that's not all, when we stay hydrated we are actually also protecting our heart from the risk of heart attack, as evidenced by a recent research presented at the ESC Congress 2021 by a team from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, US.
Water, how much to drink and the risk of dehydration
As for women, the recommendation is to take 1.6 to 2.1 liters of fluids per day. As for men, however, the recommendation is to take 2 to 3 liters of fluids per day. However, despite these guidelines, an increasing number of people do not reach the recommended amount of fluids. The problem is that when you drink too little, the amount of sodium in your blood increases. At this point the body tries to retain water by activating processes that contribute, in the long term, to the onset of cardiovascular problems.
Correct hydration must be constant
What you might think is that sodium levels can fluctuate, increasing or decreasing based on the amount of fluids consumed. In reality this is not true, in fact, sodium levels tend to remain almost constant for a long time reflecting, more than the amount of liquids consumed during the day, the usual intake of liquids. Therefore, if we tend to drink little but for a couple of days drink more, it is unlikely that our amount of sodium in the blood will decrease.
Does your cardiovascular risk increase if you drink less?
Therefore, the researchers wondered if the amount of sodium in the blood could be relevant for assessing cardiac risk. To reach an answer, data regarding the health status and sodium values in the blood of 15792 adults, participants in a large study called Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and all aged between 44 and 66 years, were analyzed. The volunteers were followed for 25 years. From the comparison of the data, what emerged is that high sodium values found during middle age led, 25 years later, to an increased risk of developing heart disease, an antechamber of heart attack, and heart attack.
Drink, drink and drink, at all ages
Therefore, this is why it is important to drink, drink always and at all ages, water, herbal teas, flavored waters or to eat foods rich in water. In fact, the health that we will have in several years is being created even now, as this research testifies. And keeping hydrated, making it a healthy daily habit, helps to chase away the risk of heart attack.
