Worth Every Drop

According to Dr Nair, naturopathy advises heart patients to drink more water. She explains: 8216;8216;The standard consumption of water for a normal person is around three litres per day. But a heart patient should have around three-and-a-half to four litres. In the absence of enough water, the thickness of the blood increases. This can lead to blockages in the system and even cause cardiac problems. Exercise and other medical instructions have to be followed, but water intake should also be strictly monitored.8217;8217;

And it8217;s not just the thickness of the blood. Adds Dr Nair: 8216;8216;Less consumption of water also leads to hyper acidity, gas formation and chronic constipation. All these conditions lead to excess pressure on the heart and can develop into serious health problems. Acidity is just the beginning of many bigger problems. We are getting a lot of such cases these days.8217;8217;

Naturopathy says even the water you bathe in plays a crucial role in the affairs of your heart. 8216;8216;We always ask cardiac patients to have their bath in lukewarm water. Hot or cold water can harm them. The temperature of their drinking water is also monitored. They are given water in varying temperatures,8217;8217; says Dr Nair.

Another 8216;water8217; treatment for cardiac patients in naturopathy is the Neutral Chest Pack. When it8217;s hot outside, a cotton cloth is soaked in neutral water and applied on the patient8217;s chest.

Contrary to the studies that promote consumption of water for the heart, allopathic practitioners here say there is no direct link between cardiac health and water. Says Dr Rajneesh Jain, Hony Associate Consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi: 8216;8216;It works both ways. When someone is extremely dehydrated, the viscosity of the blood increases and can lead to cardiac problems. But it happens very rarely and only when there is chronic dehydration. So, one should always take care to maintain a healthy water balance in the body.8217;8217;

However, he says, 8216;8216;On the other hand, we ask patients with a weak heart to not drink much water. In cases where the heart8217;s contraption power is limited, drinking too much water might make it difficult for the heart to pump blood. Their water intake should not be more than 1,200 millilitres per day and this has to be adhered to strictly.8217;8217;

So, unless you are a cardiac patient, do not shy away from that glass of water. After all, good health is everybody8217;s heart8217;s desire.

Affairs of the Heart

It8217;s not just your heart. Water has innumerable other health benefits as well. Here8217;s a list of some: Drinking water keeps your skin soft and beautiful; keeps your body cool and helps it operate at peak efficiency; prevents fatigue; improves physical performance since muscles are 70 per cent water; improves blood circulation; enhances the function of the brain the brain is 90 per cent water; prevents headaches, constipation and bladder cancer; flushes toxins; helps you stay energised and alert; reduces the risk of disease and infection; regulates body temperature; and burns fat.