We should all be drinking eight, eight-ounce glasses of water per day – this is something we hear often, but we never do.
Dehydration is a state that occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated. Severe dehydration can lead to death.
The signs and symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe, including:
So basically, when our cells are deprived of the water they need to function optimally; all systems are particularly taxed and must work harder to power us, causing us to feel exhausted or sluggish.
Along with those mood and energy deficits, your dehydrated brain also has to use a lot more power to achieve the same tasks. The amount of water needed varies from person to person and depends on what we’re eating and drinking, the climate, and our activity level.
Not drinking enough water is not the only cause of dehydration, sometimes our body flushes out our own liquids, in conditions such as:
What are the complications of dehydration? Complications of dehydration may happen because of the cost of dehydration, and/or because of the fundamental disease or situation that causes the fluid loss.
How do you avoid all this? First of all, if you feel thirsty, you’ve already waited too long to drink.
We may have been told that in order to be healthy, we must drink eight glasses of water each day, and each glass must contain 8 ounces of water. Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better indicator is the color of your urine: Clear or light-colored urine means you're well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration.
Without water, your body would stop working as it should be. Water makes up more than half of your body weight and a person can't survive for more than a few days without it. Why? Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them.
In addition to having important roles in our body, each cell depends on water to function normally.
References:
http://www.medicinenet.com/dehydration/page2.htm
http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/your-brain-dehydration
Dehydration is a state that occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated. Severe dehydration can lead to death.
The signs and symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe, including:
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth and swollen tongue
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding)
- Confusion
- Sluggishness fainting
- Fainting
- Inability to sweat
- Decreased urine output
So basically, when our cells are deprived of the water they need to function optimally; all systems are particularly taxed and must work harder to power us, causing us to feel exhausted or sluggish.
Along with those mood and energy deficits, your dehydrated brain also has to use a lot more power to achieve the same tasks. The amount of water needed varies from person to person and depends on what we’re eating and drinking, the climate, and our activity level.
Not drinking enough water is not the only cause of dehydration, sometimes our body flushes out our own liquids, in conditions such as:
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is the most widespread cause for a person to drop excess amounts of water. A significant amount of water can be lost with each bowel movement. Worldwide, more than four million children die each year because of dehydration from diarrhea.
- Vomiting: Vomiting can also be a cause of fluid loss. Not only can a person lose fluid in the vomitus, but it may be difficult to put back water by drinking because of that same nausea and vomiting.
- Sweat: The body can lose major amounts of water in the form of sweat when it tries to cool itself. Whether the body temperature is amplified because of working or exercising in a hot environment or because a fever is present due to an infection; the body uses water in the form of sweat to cool itself.
- Diabetes: In people with diabetes, elevated blood sugar levels cause sugar to drop into the urine and water then follows, which may cause major dehydration. For this reason, frequent urination and excessive thirst are among the early symptoms of diabetes.
- Burns: The skin acts as a defensive barrier for the body and is also accountable for regulating fluid loss. Burn victims become dehydrated because the damaged skin cannot stop fluid from seeping out of the body.
- Inability to drink fluids: The inability to drink sufficiently is the other probable cause of dehydration. Whether it is the lack of availability of water, intense nausea with or without vomiting, or the lack of strength to drink.
What are the complications of dehydration? Complications of dehydration may happen because of the cost of dehydration, and/or because of the fundamental disease or situation that causes the fluid loss.
- Kidney failure. Kidney failure is a widespread incidence and frequently is reversible, if it is due to dehydration and is treated early. As dehydration progresses, the volume of fluid in the body decreases, and blood pressure may fall.
- Coma. Decreased blood supply to the brain may be a source of confusion and even coma.
- Shock. When the fluid loss overwhelms the body's ability to compensate, blood flow and oxygen delivery to the body's vital organs become inadequate and cell and organ function can begin to fail.
- Heat-related illnesses and associated complications. In heat-related illness, the body's endeavor to cool itself by sweating may cause dehydration to the point that muscles may go into spasm (heat cramps).
How do you avoid all this? First of all, if you feel thirsty, you’ve already waited too long to drink.
We may have been told that in order to be healthy, we must drink eight glasses of water each day, and each glass must contain 8 ounces of water. Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better indicator is the color of your urine: Clear or light-colored urine means you're well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration.
Without water, your body would stop working as it should be. Water makes up more than half of your body weight and a person can't survive for more than a few days without it. Why? Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them.
In addition to having important roles in our body, each cell depends on water to function normally.
References:
http://www.medicinenet.com/dehydration/page2.htm
http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/your-brain-dehydration