Water offers you plenty of health benefits. Experts suggest that drinking six to eight-ounce of water regularly can improve overall health. Not only this, but some researches also show that drinking plenty of water reduces the risk of health problems.
A study included 20,000 adults and asked them to drink five or more ounces of water in a day. The results showed that these people had a lesser chance of dying from a heart attack or other heart problems. For instance, men who drink a minimum of five glasses of water cut 54% of their risk of fatal heart conditions. At the same time, females’ chance of suffering from heart conditions reduces by 41%.
But how it happens, and how can water prevent chronic problems like a stroke? If you want to learn more, you need to read the article further.
Dehydration and Heart Health
Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids through illness, sweating, urination, or fever compared to the amount you consume. It can have an adverse impact on your bodily functions and organs, including the cardiovascular and heart system. In the case of dehydration, the amount of blood circulating in your body or blood volume decreases.
In order to overcome this problem, your heart starts to beat faster, increasing your blood pressure and heart rate. Moreover, during dehydration, your blood preserves more sodium than usual and becomes thick. This makes it challenging for your blood to circulate in the body. In this case, your heart starts to pump more blood to keep the blood hydrated and to help oxygen reach every muscle.
Elders, patients with chronic health problems, athletes, and children have more risk of dehydration. You might not know, but it can lead to serious problems, from headaches or swollen feet to heart stroke or heart attack. Therefore, keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of water.
Signs of Mild to Moderate Dehydration
Here are some symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration.
- Sticky or dry mouth
- Lower urination
- Dark and yellow urine
- Muscle cramps
Signs of Severe Dehydration
Here are some symptoms of severe dehydration.
- Dark yellow or amber-colored urine
- Less urination
- Sunken eyes
- Shriveled skin
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Confusion or irritability
- Rapid heartbeat and breathing
- Unconsciousness
Drinking Water Prevents Other Problems
Water also helps with other issues, such as weight control, that eventually improves heart health. You need to know that drinking plenty of water lowers your appetite. Also, drinking cold and filtered water can burn calories. Thus, increased calorie burning and decreased calorie consumption prevent you from gaining additional pounds. Even if drinking water doesn’t directly contribute to your heart health, it may help you to prevent other problems that can lead to chronic heart conditions.
Drinking less water can hinder physical performance, develop kidney stones, impact your thinking, cause headaches, and lead to constipation. Some of these conditions have a direct effect on your heart, and others can cause stress which increases blood pressure, leading to heart problems.
Water Can Prevent Future Strokes
Some research studies suggest that people who have suffered from strokes and other heart conditions can reduce the future risk of heart attacks by keeping themselves hydrated. As water will keep your blood less viscous, heart patients can prevent more heart problems.
The best way to save yourself from future problems is to drink one cup of water for every 20 pounds of your body weight regularly. Also, you need to drink water early in the morning, as you are most dehydrated at that time. You also need to know that your blood is thickest in the morning when you wake up. This is the primary reason why heart attacks and strokes usually occur in the morning. So, if you want to drink something other than a cold glass of water, it’s best to wait until you get fully hydrated.
Ways to Keep Yourself Hydrated
Here are some tips that you need to follow to increase water consumption.
- If you don’t like the taste of water, add lime, orange, or lemon slices to enhance its flavor. Or simply pour some amount of fruit juice into a glass of water.
- Carry a bottle filled with water where ever you go.
- Notice the dehydration signs in your urine. If it has a strong odor and dark yellow color, you need to drink more water.
Bottom Line
So, now you know that drinking water can prevent heart attack and other associated problems. It is also important to note that unpurified water may not offer you similar benefits as soft water and filtered water.
Additionally, you also need to think about whether you need a water filter or water softener. Both offer you safe, clean water that doesn’t contain contaminants and impurities. Moreover, they also come with essential minerals that offer you health benefits.
No matter which process you choose, you can limit your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart problems.
