How Hard Water Affects Your Health

We live in a world where hard water seems ever so prominent. Many people already know the devastating effects it can have on washing machines and dishwashers, as well as bathroom fixtures, taps, and showerheads.

However, there’s a debate still going on about the health effects of hard water. Today, we will be looking at the most common statements regarding hard water’s health effects and break them down to see how well they still hold up after numerous studies. 

Hard Water, Hair Loss, Dermatitis, and Eczema

Before we get into the effects of drinking hard water, let’s take a look at what happens when you use it for showering.

To put it simply, the calcium and magnesium crystals found in hard water have a tendency to stick on skin and scalp, thus preventing them from getting the oxygen that they so desperately need.

When these crystals build up considerably on the scalp, it leads to scalp calcification, which in turn causes hair loss. Furthermore, it makes the scalp look terrible and treatment for it can be quite expensive for a lot of people.

Something similar happens to the skin, especially in young children, which makes them develop topical dermatitis. And if you already suffer from eczema and dermatitis, hard water will only make it even itchier and noticeable. Sure, it’s not the end of the world, and you can get ointments from pharmacies, but it is annoying. 

Is Drinking Hard Water Safe?

This question has been posed numerous times, but the answer might surprise you. Hard water is completely safe to drink as long as there are no other pollutants inside of it such as chemicals or pathogens.

Let’s take a glance at a few of the problems that people used to think hard water could cause on their health:

Cardiovascular Disease

People used to think that excessive calcium and magnesium could negatively affect the heart. Far from it. In fact, calcium and magnesium intake helps people have a much healthier heart than they would by drinking water without these excess minerals. 

Diabetes

Hard water usually contains twice the amount of magnesium that adults need as their daily intake. Because of this, people often thought that hard water may be indirectly linked to diabetes. However, research shows that people with diabetes actually have far less magnesium in their system. So, in theory, hard water might be beneficial for diabetics.

Kidney Stones 

Since kidney stones have a high concentration of calcium and uric acid, it is safe to assume that a high consumption of calcium from hard water could lead to the development of kidney stones. 

However, kidney stones are far more likely to form when the excess calcium is taken without oxalate. Because of this, research is still inconclusive when it comes to hard water forming kidney stones. 

What Have We Learned So Far?

As you can see, hard water has visible effects on skin and hair, which can be quite nasty. But as far as drinking it goes, research either shows that it has positive effects or inconclusive effects at worst.

It is safe to assume that after reading this info, you might want to keep drinking hard water but eliminate it from the shower and appliances. You could try investing in a saltless water softener alternative, such as a water descaler to achieve the best results with the help of this easy installation guide.