Drink up! That is, at least five glasses of water a day. Researchers found that doing just that reduces the chances of having a deadly heart attack. http://www.liveitlomalinda.org Join the conversation and use #LiveItLomaLinda #LiveIt Transcript Below: Show Open Patricia Kelikani (Host) Health Journalist Think about how much water you drink in a typical day? Dr. Mark Reeves (Host) Surgical Oncologist Would you drink more water if you knew it would reduce your risk of heart disease by half? Dr. Synnove Knutsen LLU Professor of Preventive Medicine "About 40 percent of people in this country die of cardiovascular disease, so it is a serious disease that develops over many, many years and the good news is it is preventable." Dr. Mark Reeves (Host) Heart disease is caused when any blockage in your arteries keeps the heart from receiving enough blood. Patricia Kelikani (Host) The build up of plaque can result from risk factors like smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Dr. Mark Reeves (Host) This Loma Linda University Health study followed 34,000 Californians over 15 years. Dr. Synnove Knutsen “Both men and women who drank five or more glasses of water per day had about half the risk of dying of coronary heart disease.” Patricia Kelikani (Host) And that’s the simple tip for the day. Dr. Mark Reeves (Host) Drink at least five glasses of water every day to lower your risk for heart disease. Dr. Synnove Knutsen “You can spice it up with some lemon or lime or orange slices.” Patricia Kelikani (Host) Herbal teas without sugar have also shown a similar effect on lowering your risk of heart disease. Dr. Mark Reeves (Host) But remember, drinks like juice and soda are high in sugar and won’t give us the benefit of lowering your risk of heart disease. Patricia Kelikani (Host) There’s your simple tip for the day on how you can live healthier, longer. All health and health-related information contained in this program is general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a health care professional. Viewers should consult their health care providers concerning any medical condition or treatment.