April 27, 2023

Experts say hydration is particularly important for older adults.

• Researchers say staying hydration by drinking water throughout the day can improve healthy aging and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
• They say hydration is effective mainly because it helps lower serum sodium levels.
• They say hydration is particularly important for older adults.

Staying hydrated could lead to healthy aging as well as reduce your risk of developing chronic disease and help you to live longer, according to a new studyTrusted Source  published in eBioMedicine.

Researchers looked at health data from 11,255 adults over a 30-year span via the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARICTrusted Source ) study.

They based their findings on information shared by the participants during five medical visits. The first two visits were when participants were in their 50s. The last was between the ages of 70 and 90.

Specifically, the scientists looked at serum sodium levels, which rise when fluid levels in the body go down. The serum sodium levels indicate the amount of sodium in your blood, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Sodium is an electrolyte that helps to control fluids and balance acids and bases in your blood. You get sodium from your diet and your kidneys flush it out when you have too much.

High serum sodium levels could signal dehydration or a problem with your kidneys.

Normal serum sodium levels are 135-145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L).

The researchers found that people with levels:

• In the high normal or above were more likely to show signs of faster biological aging based on metabolic and cardiovascular health, lung function, and inflammation.
• Above 142 were more likely to be biologically older than their chronological age. They also had a substantially increased risk of developing chronic health conditions, such as heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, and dementia
• Between 144 and 146 had a 21% increased risk of premature aging

Those with levels between 138 and 140 were at the lowest risk of developing chronic disease.

What is dehydration?

“Dehydration, just as the name implies, is a condition that occurs from either inadequate water intake, excessive water loss, or most commonly, both,” says Dr. M. Ramin Modabber, an orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles and the medical director and chief medical officer at Amgen Tour of California.

There are various degrees of dehydration ranging from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms vary based on the degree of water loss.

• Common signs of mild dehydration include thirst and dry mouth, which can progress to moderate dehydration characterized by decreased or darker urine, headaches, and muscle cramps.

• Severe dehydration symptoms include the inability to sweat or urinate and can be accompanied by dizziness, confusion, or fainting. This can be dangerous as vital organs can lose the ability to function normally.

“Whether it’s a cycling race or other strenuous activity you’re engaging in, being aware of the ways dehydration can strike and head it off at the pass are some of your best tools to stay healthy and active any time of year,” Modabber told Healthline.

There isn’t a “one size fits all” answer to how much fluid you should drink daily. Activity levels, medications, sweat production, health status, and temperature, especially when exercising, all affect how much fluid your body needs.

“Per the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NAS)… the recommended guideline for adults is 125 ounces for men and 91 ounces for women per day,” says Dr. Neal Patel, DO, a family medicine specialist with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, California. “This is based on gender. Someone with diarrhea or increased sweating due to high temperatures is at increased risk of dehydration and needs to consume additional fluids.”

“How much fluids someone needs is sometimes based on weight. Some calculations show that people should drink half their body weight in water,” he noted. “For example, if someone weighs 200 kg, they should consume 100 ounces of water daily. People also consume about 20 percent of their liquid from foods.”

请大家一起呼吁：祖国文明建设应从央视和国营媒体带头禁刊酒类广告做起。酒，从精神到肉体已经伤害了无数国人！
-《海外南开人网》敬启

Alcohol and Aging 酒精与衰老（英/中）

How Alcohol Affects Your Body 酒精如何伤害你的身体 （英/中）

喝酒致癌原理