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Health Guidelines

Drinking Plenty of Water Can Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease

Drinking more water...

in this study, reduced the risk of heart disease by:

54% in men
41% in women

High intakes of other fluids in place of water, coffee, soda pop etc., was linked to increased risk of heart disease.

Water helps ...

Keep your skin soft and beautiful
Keep your body cool and operating at peak efficiency
Prevent fatigue
Improve physical performance (muscles are 70% water)
Improve the circulation
Improve mental function (the brain is 90% water)
Prevent headaches
Prevent constipation
Prevent bladder cancer

Getting adequate water intake daily may be protective to your heart a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology reports. People who have low intakes of water tend to be dehydrated or marginally so. This can affect the blood's viscosity (thickness), hematocrit, and fibrinogen levels, all of which can increase the risk of a heart attack.

This study looked at water and other fluid intake in 8280 men and 12017 women in the Adventist Health Study, a large prospective study in California. Over the 6 years of study, 246 fatal heart attacks occurred. These deaths from heart attacks were then correlated with water intake.

Here is what they found. Men who had a high intake of water (five or more glasses per day) had less than half as many heart attacks (relative risk of 0.46) as men who had low intakes (two glasses per day or less). Women had similar findings, a 41% lower risk of heart deaths in those women drinking more water. This relationship held even after adjusting for common risk factors such as age, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, diet, education, etc.

When they looked at other fluids, coffee, soda pop etc. they found no protective effects of higher fluid intake. In fact, those who had the highest fluid intake from other beverages (in place of water) had higher mortality rates, especially in women.

This is a most interesting finding. Here is another simple way to improve your health and reduce your risk of heart disease -- simple drink more water, at least 5 or more glasses daily, preferably 6-10 glasses, especially if you live in warm climates.

Getting adequate water can also reduce the risk for bladder cancer, help prevent headaches, and reduce constipation. It's a simple remedy with great benefits and no side effects! Drink up! Water that is.

View 6 MS PP slides on water and health

Reference

Jacqueline Chan, et al, Water, Other Fluids, and Fatal Coronary Heart Disease, American Journal of Epidemiology 155 (9):827-33, Jan. 2002

Making Healthy Choices articles are written by Don Hall, DrPH, CHES president of LifeLong Health with contributions from associated health professionals. Content is general health information from evidence based research. It's purpose is not to treat disease or take the place of advice by your doctor but to promote healthy lifestyles. Persons with health problems should contact their physician for specific guidance.