Staying well-hydrated offers so many benefits. From regulating your body temperature to lubricating your joints to helping remove toxins from your body, drinking water can help you remain healthier.
A 2022 National Institutes of Health study even found that good hydration may reduce long-term risks for heart failure.
“Adequate hydration also benefits your cardiovascular health,” says Dr. Oleg Chebotarev, a Cardiologist and Congestive Heart Failure Specialist with ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care. “Drinking water helps your heart function as it should and more easily pump blood your through your body. Put simply, staying well-hydrated means your heart doesn’t have to work as hard.”
For people with heart disease, staying hydrated is crucial but also carries some considerations. Dr. Chebotarev shares guidance.
Heed the Heat
During the summer months, it’s important to remain even more mindful of staying hydrated. Warmer weather causes you to sweat more and thus lose water from your body more quickly.
“Heat, combined with dehydration, can cause your heart to work harder,” Dr. Chebotarev says. “As the heart pumps more blood, it puts the organ under more stress.”
Follow these general guidelines to keep safe in extremely hot weather:
- Pay attention to heat index warnings, and adjust your activities accordingly.
- Watch for air quality alerts. Poor air quality adversely impacts people with heart disease and can put additional stress on their hearts amidst hot weather.
- Seek cool spaces during the hottest part of the day.
- Stay hydrated, but talk to your doctor about how to do so safely, especially if you have congestive heart failure.
- Move outdoor workouts to the early morning or evening hours, when temperatures are cooler.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Protect yourself from sunburn with sunscreen, and wear a hat and sunglasses.
- Keep taking your heart medications. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about how they might interact with heat.
Opt for Water
“For most people and situations, water is the best choice,” Dr. Chebotarev says. “Calorie-free and easily accessible, water can keep you hydrated all day long.”
Follow these general guidelines:
- Sip water throughout the day. If you’re thirsty, you’ve waited too long.
- Monitor the color of your urine. If you’re well-hydrated, it will be pale and clear. Darker-colored urine is a sign that you need to drink more fluids.
- While exercising, water is generally all you’ll need. If you’re doing sustained, vigorous exercise in hot weather, you may need a sports drink with electrolytes. However, watch sugar content and calories.
- You can also get water through foods you eat, especially fruits and veggies. High-water-content choices include cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, celery, lettuce and watermelon.
- If water is too plain for your taste, try adding a slice of lemon, lime or cucumber. Unsweetened sparkling water offers another option.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol. Both increase your urine output and cause you to lose more fluids.
Congestive Heart Failure Concerns
If you have congestive heart failure (CHF), staying hydrated remains important. At the same time, people with CHF must monitor and limit their fluid intake.
Taking in too much fluid can lead to a buildup that causes shortness of breath and swelling, Dr. Chebotarev says. Conversely, taking in too little can cause dehydration and kidney harm, among other serious problems.
When monitoring your intake, remember that fluids include beverages such as water, soda, tea, coffee and milk, as well as ice cream, soup, sherbet, popsicles and gelatin.
“We like to remind people that if it wiggles, jiggles or melts at room temperature, it’s a fluid,” Dr. Chebotarev says.
People with CHF should talk to their cardiologist about the amount of fluid they should take in and how to monitor their intake.
“Our teams are always here for you,” Dr. Chebotarev says. “If you have a question about hydration or any other concern, reach out to your cardiovascular care team.”
