By Dr. Russell Blaylock, M.D. From Newsmax

One simple, but oft-overlooked factor in health and longevity is sweating. But these days, the Western world is addicted to air conditioning, so people rarely sweat.

We sit all day in temperature-controlled offices, ride home in air-conditioned cars, and set our home thermostats to 68 degrees. Most people literally have to go out of their way to sweat.

Growing up, I was told it was important to sweat to remove poisons from the body. In fact, one of the more efficient ways to remove mercury from your body is by sweating.

At one time, regular sweating was even a traditional treatment used in medical clinics.

Another simple thing you can do is drink plenty of water. Many people are dehydrated and don’t even know it.

This problem is prevalent in the elderly, especially men, because they avoid drinking enough water to keep from having to wake up during the night to relieve themselves.

The obsession with sugary drinks also worsens dehydration because elevated sugar levels in the blood stimulate loss of body water.

One of the early signs of diabetes is urinary frequency. When people are dehydrated, their blood becomes thicker and more likely to clot. Heart attacks and strokes happen because of sudden clotting of the blood.

It is also more difficult for the red blood cells to pass through capillaries. Serious damage from a heart attack is much more likely when collateral circulation in the heart is impaired, which can occur if a person is dehydrated.

Collateral circulation is a set of special blood vessels that bypass a blocked blood vessel — sort of a back-door blood supply.

For food and oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged at the tissue level, a person must have adequate microcirculation — that is, good blood flow in arterioles and capillaries, which are the smallest of blood vessels.

Hydration opens these microvessels and makes blood flow much easier. One study found that men who drank 5 to 6 glasses of water a day reduced their risk of a fatal heart attack by 60% to 70%.

Of course, while you do want to sweat, you must be careful that it doesn’t lead to dehydration. The best solution — especially for elderly men — is to drink a lot of water early in the day.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, M.D., is editor of The Blaylock Wellness Report and a nationally recognized board-certified neurosurgeon, health practitioner, author, and lecturer.