I came across another interesting article on the benefits of good hydration.
This article explains how a study conducted by the researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that staying well hydrated may be associated with a reduced risk of heart failure.
“Similar to reducing salt intake, drinking enough water and staying hydrated are ways to support our hearts and may help reduce long-term risks for heart disease,” said Natalia Dmitrieva, Ph.D., the lead study author and a researcher in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Report data
- The researchers reached these conclusions after analysing data from medical visits of more than 15,000 adults between the ages of 45 and 66 over more than a 25-year period.
- Approximately 11,814 adults were included in the final analysis, and, of those, the researchers found 1,366 (11.56%) later developed heart failure.
- The team’s assessment of the possible connection to hydration was gauged by observed serum sodium levels, which raise when one’s body becomes less hydrated
I found this study to be interesting not only because it found a link between staying hydrated and a reduced risk of heart failure, but also because the authors were able to take advantage of large, long-term studies that involved the participation of thousands of participants. It confirms the need for good hydration and how people could benefit from an app that helps track their hydration intake.
While fluid guidelines vary based on the body’s needs, the researchers recommended a daily fluid intake of 6-8 cups (1.5-2.1 liters) for women and 8-12 cups (2-3 liters) for men
These kinds of statistics, such as the recommended daily water intake for both men and women could be useful to show in the app somewhere, perhaps on the homescreen itself. It would also be useful for my app prototype to feature a tool for calculating the user’s recommended water intake.
I was also not aware that men require a higher water intake than women. There are also other factors to consider when measuring water intake such as age, activity level, weight, the user’s location and weather that day. These are factors I may need to research more about when creating this water tracking app. Adding more features that cater specifically to the user will make the experience of using the app more engaging.