The results, released Monday, are based on data collected over 25 years from more than 11,000 American adults. The participants began their first medical visits between the ages of 45 and 66 and then returned for follow-up between the ages of 70 and 90, according to NBC News.
The doctors looked at the participants’ blood sodium levels as an indicator of hydration because higher concentrations are a sign that they probably weren’t getting enough hydration. The researchers found that participants with high blood sodium levels aged physiologically faster than participants with lower levels, which was reflected in aging-related health markers such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and cholesterol. blood sugar levels. In all study participants, the concentration of sodium in the blood was considered within the normal range: 135 to 146 millimoles per liter. But the results showed that people with levels at the top of that normal range, above 144 millimoles per liter, were 50 percent more likely to show signs of physical aging beyond what would be expected for their age. , compared to people with lower sodium levels. in blood. They also had about a 20 percent increased risk of early death.
Doctors also warned that many factors besides hydration can affect a person’s blood sodium levels, such as taking diuretics, also known as water pills, for high blood pressure. Some people with neurological problems or other disorders may have higher than average blood sodium levels.
The US National Academy of Medicine recommends six to nine 200-gram glasses of fluid a day for women and eight to 12 for men. However, experts noted that people have different hydration needs depending on their activity level and environment.
