Water intake: This is how your drinking behavior protects your heart!

The human body depends on sufficient fluid intake. On average, he loses up to 2.5 liters of fluid every day, although this loss can be up to three times higher on hot summer days. Not only can dehydration cause physical symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness and headaches, but it can also lead to serious health problems. A 2021 study showed that inadequate fluid intake can contribute to the development of heart failure. To prevent these risks, it is recommended to drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of water daily, as futurezone.de reports.

The German Society for Nutrition also recommends at least 1.5 liters of liquid per day at normal temperatures. In summer temperatures, this amount should be increased to avoid dehydration. Micaela Schmidt from BARMER advises not to drink until you are thirsty, as thirst can already be a sign of mild dehydration. Dr. also emphasizes the importance of daily fluid intake. Natalia Dmitrieva from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Health effects of dehydration

Additional information on the health effects of dehydration comes from various studies. For example, a systematic review has shown that dehydration can have negative effects on cognitive performance and health outcomes in older people, as gesundheitsinformation.de reports. Research includes, but is not limited to, qualitative studies examining the views of older people and their caregivers about hydration in old age, as well as reviews of the effectiveness and safety of various hydration techniques.