Drinking Water Helps Reduce Blood PressureJanuary 12, 2016
It’s called the silent killer. High blood pressure’s toil on victims’ health often comes slowly and sometimes ends tragically. High blood pressure, or hypertension, displays few symptoms. That’s why everyone should periodically have theirs checked.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans 60 and older suffer from high pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. While health care professionals urge sufferers of the disease to get medical treatment to get blood pressure under control, they point to certain lifestyle changes – such as weight loss and dietary restrictions – as powerful aids to healthier living. One noteworthy tip: Drinking water helps reduce blood pressure.
Health experts say drinking more water helps balance – and reduce – the body’s sodium intake. Those who suffer from hypertension should increase their water intake to at least 12 8-ounce bottles of water (96 ounces) per day, according to www.drsinatra.com.
The link between high sodium levels, lack of adequate hydration and hypertension gets complicated. Forty-three percent of adults do not drink enough water, according to the Chicago Tribune. While stark, that percentage is more revealing of Americans’ neglect in maintaining healthy hydration levels. More than a third of adults drink only 8 to 24 ounces of water (one to three glasses) per day while 7 percent don’t drink any.
Some Americans do heed hydration warnings. About a third drink four to seven 8-ounce glasses of water per day while 22 percent hit the ideal of eight or more.
“Mentally and physically, we’re better off being hydrated,” said Paula Burke, clinical dietitian at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, Illinois. “The human body is about 70 percent water; we need it. It helps our circulation, makes us feel better, helps rid our bodies of toxins and prevents constipation. And drinking water before meals helps you eat less if you’re trying to lose weight.”
That’s the connection, experts say: Weight loss. Losing as little as 10 pounds has been shown to lower or even prevent the onset of high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.
Elevated blood pressure is linked to the operation of the kidneys, which work to maintain the body’s fluid balance. When sodium levels rise, blood volume also increases, causing your kidneys to work to expel excess sodium through urination. When kidneys are overworked, blood pressure begins to rise, according to Livestrong.com. (Chronic hypertension can also lead to kidney damage.)
The Mayo Clinic recommends abstaining from adding salt to your food. One level teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg. of sodium, which by itself is considered the body’s daily limit.
Health authorities say increasing water intake to healthy levels helps lower sodium levels in the body, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Not drinking enough water, while possibly lowering blood pressure temporarily, tends to cause the body to retain sodium, which elevates blood pressure, according to Remedy Health Media.
While we at Azure Water are great advocates of increased water consumption to stay healthy, we urge everyone monitor their hydration levels to prevent onset of serious health complications from hypertension.
Azure Water’s facility uses state-of-the-art equipment and the latest technology to ensure you get only the finest, purest water possible. We can produce custom-bottle shapes, and fill, seal and label your bottles. If you’re looking to expand your business or have questions about co-packing or our capabilities, contact us.