Good hydration is key to a longer lifespan, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health. Keys News reporter Daniel Reynen reports:
Drinking more water may lead to a longer and healthier life.
A new study published by the National Institutes of Health has found a strong link between good hydration, healthy aging and a longer lifespan. The study, which used health data from 11,255 adults over 30 years, looked at various factors that could impact health and longevity.
Researchers figured out how much fluid people drank by analyzing serum sodium levels. The more fluids you drink, the more your serum sodium levels drop. Adults with serum sodium levels at the higher end of the normal range weren’t drinking as much, and they had more chronic conditions, showed signs of advanced biological aging and were more likely to die at a younger age.
Here are the numbers you should look for. The normal range for serum sodium is between 135-146 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). If you move toward the higher end of the range, 142 mEq/L, you increase your odds of being biologically older than your actual age by 10-15%. Levels above 144 mEq/L increased your odds by 50%.
But early aging wasn’t the only issue. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, “Adults with serum sodium levels above 142 mEq/L had up to a 64% increased associated risk for developing chronic diseases like heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation and peripheral artery disease, as well as chronic lung disease, diabetes, and dementia.”
If your serum sodium regularly tests at 144.5-146 mEq/L, you have a 21% increased risk of premature death.
There is good news. Adults with serum sodium levels in the 138-140 mEq/L range had the lowest risk of developing chronic disease.
Researchers noted that their findings don’t prove a “causal effect.” In experiments, researchers can compare the outcome of a group that receives a specific treatment (the treatment group) to the outcome of the group members that do not receive the treatment (the control group).
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