How You Can Know You Are Dehydrated?

Feb 1
16:20

2010

Blanca  Somers

Blanca Somers

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Our very lives depend on water. Our body weight is 75% water and our brains are 85% water that helps cushion the brain from the skull. Our cells are 75% to 90% water. We can’t live without good old H2O. There are several reasons why this is true.

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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. Each body cell us made up of from 75 percent to 90 percent water. We certainly can’t get along without that abundant liquid,How You Can Know You Are Dehydrated? Articles water. There are several reasons we must have it.

First of all, 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 permits blood to flow through the arteries and veins. Water keeps blood fluid. Third, water is an excellent absorber of heat and this fact helps regulate body temperature both by storing heat when cold and by losing heat through evaporation (sweating) when hot. The sweating also rids the body of impurities.

Though we need water, we are also constantly losing it. We lose water in three ways. First, the elimination of urine loses water. This is true because the kidneys process 45 to 50 gallons of fluid a day and produce more than a quart of urine every day. Since urine is mostly water (95%), we must replace this lost liquid. The other two ways the body loses water are by perspiration and defecation.

We repeat, this lose means water must be replaced. We should each drink eight to ten glasses or two quarts of water daily. If we don’t replace the water we lose, we will suffer the effects of dehydration. Some have estimated that as much as 75% of Americans are dehydrated. If it is not treated quickly, dehydration can be fatal.

A person can become dehydrated because of diarrhea and/or vomiting. When sick to the stomach, most people can’t keep anything down. However, as soon as you can, ingest liquids to replace the loss. The most vulnerable are the young and old. The old are vulnerable because they tend to lose their sensation of thirst with age. When a person loses so many liquids that they lose 1% of their body weight, they are considered to be severely dehydrated.

How would you know if you were 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. Other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, extreme thirst, headaches, and confusion. A person may also have a lack of tears or sunken eyes.

If you suspect you are dehydrated, try this simple test. Pinch your skin, then let go. If you are dehydrated, the skin will be slow to return to its normal position. If you aren’t sure, drink a glass of water anyway. People who drink sufficient pure water have the added benefit of rarely developing kidney stones.

Severe dehydration, mentioned above, might have these symptoms: severe cramping of the arms, legs, stomach, and back, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, convulsions, sunken eyes, heart failure, 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, it is important to drink healthy water. Be sure your water supply is pure. In conclusion, keep yourself healthy by drinking the proper amount of liquids each day. Eight to ten glasses can go a long way in helping you maintain a healthy body.