Proper hydration could be key to preventing heart failure, study reveals

Experts from the National Institutes of Health have confirmed that providing the body with adequate water has numerous health benefits. They discovered that it could protect against the development of heart failure. One of the researchers, Dr. Natalia Dmitrieva from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, stated that proper hydration and reducing overall salt intake contribute to lowering the risk of heart problems.

In her latest medical experiment, Dr. Dmitrieva investigated the link between dehydration and heart fibrosis. To conduct the analysis, the scientists collected data from 15,000 adults aged 45 to 66. The participants provided information about their health status and medical visits over 25 years. The focus was on individuals whose hydration levels were within the norms of water intake.

At the start of the study, these participants did not have conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or heart failure. This narrowed the group of 15,000 to 11,814 adults who developed heart failure. Hydration levels were assessed by the sodium level in the body, which increases when the amount of fluids in the body decreases. Scientists believe that this relationship might be responsible for the increased risk of heart disease with insufficient water intake.

The correct sodium concentration is 135-146 mmol/L. In participants whose sodium levels started at 143 mmol/L, a higher risk of heart failure was observed. As sodium concentration increased, so did the likelihood of developing this severe disease.

The study's authors believe that further research is necessary, as the problem is complex and requires deeper analysis.