High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems in the world. It often develops without obvious symptoms, which is why it is sometimes called the “silent killer.”
If it is not treated, it can damage blood vessels over many years and greatly increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, heart failure, and other serious health problems.
Millions of people take medicine every day to control their blood pressure, while others try to improve it by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, reducing salt intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking. Even with these efforts, many people still struggle to keep their blood pressure under control.
Now, researchers from Emory University have discovered an unexpected idea that could one day help. Their study suggests that adding two important minerals, calcium and magnesium, to drinking water may help lower blood pressure naturally.
The research was led by Abu Mohammed Naser, a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University. The project began in coastal Bangladesh, where people get their drinking water from different sources. Some families collect water from ponds, while others drink groundwater. Groundwater in this area often contains more natural salt than pond water.
At first, the researchers expected that people drinking the saltier groundwater would have higher blood pressure because sodium, the main part of table salt, is well known for raising blood pressure in many people.
Instead, they found something surprising. People who regularly drank the saltier groundwater actually had lower blood pressure than people who mainly drank fresh pond water.
To understand why this happened, the scientists collected and studied urine samples from the participants. The tests showed that people drinking the groundwater had higher levels of calcium and magnesium in their bodies. These findings suggested that the helpful minerals may have been balancing or even outweighing the harmful effects of sodium.
Calcium and magnesium are both essential minerals that the body needs every day. Calcium is best known for building strong bones and teeth, but it also helps muscles, nerves, and blood vessels work properly. Blood vessels need to tighten and relax at the right times to keep blood pressure at a healthy level.
Magnesium is involved in hundreds of chemical reactions in the body. It helps muscles relax, supports healthy nerves, improves blood flow, and helps blood vessels stay flexible. When people do not get enough magnesium, blood vessels may become tighter, making blood pressure rise.
Earlier studies have already suggested that diets rich in calcium and magnesium may help support healthy blood pressure. The new research provides another possible explanation by showing that drinking water itself could be an important source of these minerals.
Because drinking water is something people use every day, adding calcium and magnesium to public water supplies could become a simple public health strategy if future research confirms the benefits.
This idea is similar to adding fluoride to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. It could be especially useful in places where people have limited access to health care, regular blood pressure checks, or prescription medicines.
However, the researchers also stress that this study does not prove that adding these minerals to water will lower blood pressure everywhere. More clinical studies are needed to confirm the results, find the safest mineral levels, and understand who would benefit the most.
Until then, people should continue following medical advice, taking prescribed medicines, eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, and having their blood pressure checked regularly.
High blood pressure affects billions of people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness and death. Even small improvements in blood pressure across large populations could prevent many heart attacks and strokes every year. Discoveries like this offer hope that simple, low-cost solutions could one day improve heart health for millions of people.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The findings add to growing evidence that everyday nutrition, including the minerals found in food and water, can play an important role in protecting long-term health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about breakfast for better blood pressure management, and the gut feeling that lowers blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how the dash diet helps lower blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
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