As we navigate through our golden years, health becomes a paramount concern, and we often take extra care to ensure our lifestyle choices contribute to our well-being. However, a recent study has brought to light a rather unsettling connection between a common daily habit and our health – specifically, our blood pressure. It turns out that reaching for that convenient plastic bottle of water could be doing more harm than good.


The study, conducted by researchers at the Danube Private University in Austria, suggests that drinking from plastic bottles can lead to an increase in blood pressure due to microplastics entering the bloodstream. These tiny particles, often invisible to the naked eye, are not just a threat to the environment but also to our cardiovascular health.


Microplastics are the result of the degradation of larger plastic items, broken down by factors such as UV radiation or physical wear and tear. Alarmingly, they have been found not only in plastic bottles but also in fluids contained in glass bottles. This pervasive issue means that microplastics are nearly impossible to avoid in any bottled beverages.


The Austrian study observed a group of men and women who were instructed to get their daily fluid intake exclusively from tap water, avoiding any drinks stored in plastic or glass bottles. Over the course of two weeks, several blood pressure measurements were taken. The findings were significant: there was a noticeable decline in diastolic blood pressure – the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

This decrease in blood pressure after cutting out bottled drinks suggests that microplastics could be a contributing factor to elevated blood pressure, which is a known risk factor for heart disease. The researchers concluded that reducing the intake of plastic particles could potentially lower cardiovascular risk.

It's important to note that microplastics have been found in various parts of the human body, including saliva, heart tissue, the liver, kidneys, and even the placenta. The ubiquity of these particles is a growing concern, and their presence in our bodies is a testament to the widespread pollution problem we face.


So, what can we do to protect ourselves? Firstly, consider switching to tap water or using a glass or stainless steel bottle for your beverages. If you're concerned about the quality of your tap water, investing in a good water filter can be a wise choice. Not only will this help reduce your exposure to microplastics, but it's also a more sustainable option for the environment.

Moreover, it's essential to support initiatives and policies aimed at reducing plastic waste and improving recycling processes. By being conscious consumers and advocating for change, we can help address the root of the microplastics issue.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we understand that change can be challenging, especially when it involves breaking habits that have been part of our daily routine for years. However, the health implications of this study are too significant to ignore. We encourage our members to take these findings seriously and consider making adjustments to their beverage consumption habits.


We'd love to hear from you, our readers. Have you experienced any health improvements after reducing your use of plastic bottles? Do you have tips for others looking to make the switch to more sustainable drinking options? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and let's help each other lead healthier lives while taking care of our planet.