How Do You Know You Are Dehydrated?

Jan 12
08:52

2010

Blanca  Somers

Blanca Somers

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Life itself is dependent on water. The human body is generally 75% water and the brain is 85% water by weight (water in the brain helps protect it from the skull). Our body cells are made up of 75% to 90% water. We certainly can’t get along without that abundant liquid, water. This is true for several reasons.

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Life itself is dependent on water. Our body weight is 75% water and our brains are 85% water that helps cushion the brain from the skull. Our body cells are made up of 75% to 90% water. We can’t live without good old H2O. There are several reasons we must have it.

First of all,How Do You Know You Are Dehydrated? Articles water is the universal solvent and since most of the body’s chemical reactions take place in solution, water is needed for them to take place. Second, water allows blood to flow through the blood vessels. It keeps the blood fluid. Third, water absorbs much heat and this helps regulate body temperature both with storing heat and losing heat through evaporation (sweating). Sweating has the added benefit of helping to cleanse impurities and waste from the cells.

We need water yet we are constantly losing it. The body loses water three ways. First, we lose water when we pass urine. The kidneys process 45 to 50 gallons of fluid a day and, though most of it is retained, the kidneys produce more than a quart of urine daily. Urine is 95% water, and this quart must be replaced. The body also loses water by defecation and by perspiration.

Again, all this loss means the water must be replaced. The average person should drink eight to ten glasses (two quarts) of water each day. If we neglect this, we will soon become dehydrated. Some have estimated that as much as 75% of Americans are dehydrated. If not treated properly, dehydration can be fatal.

Dehydration may occur because of sickness causing diarrhea and/or vomiting. During such times we may not be able to keep anything down. But as soon as possible replace these lost liquids. The old and the young are most likely to be dehydrated. The old are included because they lose the sense of thirst they had when they were younger. If a person loses more than 1% of body weight in liquids, it is considered to be severe dehydration.

How can you tell if you are dehydrated? The first clear sign is production of only small amounts of dark urine. A dehydrated person might also have a raised body temperature for no evident reason. They might also experience extreme thirst, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and confusion. A lack of tears or sunken eyes may also indicate this problem.

If you suspect you are dehydrated, try this simple test. Pinch your skin on the arm, leg, or belly, then let go. If you are dehydrated, the skin will be slow to return to its normal position. If in doubt, drink a glass of water. People who drink sufficient pure water have the added benefit of rarely developing kidney stones.

Severe dehydration might be evidenced by low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, severe cramping of the arms, legs, stomach, and back, convulsions, heart failure, sunken eyes, inelasticity of the skin, and deep, rapid breathing. In such cases, not only the water needs to be replaced, but also the salt and glucose.

Of course, we must be drinking clear water. Make sure it is pure. In summary, be sure you are drinking sufficient pure water each day. Two quarts a day can do a lot in keeping the doctor away.