The Affects of Dehydration on Your Body

Believe it or not, water is very important to your body for many different reasons. In an average adult, 60% of their body weight is water. In an infant, water makes up roughly 70% of their body weight. Muscles are about 75% water and bones are about 25%. If you think about it, what would happen if your body did not have enough water to keep your body functioning? Water is located in your cells (intracellular fluids) as well as outside your cells (extracellular fluids). What holds the water in your cells and other locations throughout the body is proteins, sodium, and potassium which are all electrolytes. Depending on your fluid pressure, the transfer of water from one place to another can range in speed. Water is the key thing that keeps this process flowing and makes sure fluids are distributed wherever they are needed.

Water does plays many roles in the human body. Many substances such as glucose, amino acids, and minerals are what your body cells need and water is what dissolves them. Water also helps so your body does not have chemical reactions by breaking molecules, both big and small, apart. Another very important thing that water does is help control your body temperature. Water holds heat which helps keep your body temperature regulated. It does it at a slow rate so that your body does not go into shock by a rapid temperature change. The water in your blood can increase or decrease the amount of heat that your body loses. When you sweat, your body temperature increases. At the same time, your brain triggers your sweat glands in your skin to produce sweat which is mostly water. As the sweat is evaporated, your body slowly cools. If your body does not have enough water, the more you sweat the more dehydrated you will become.

The majority of water intake comes from the fluids we drink. Many foods also provide water such as fruits and vegetables which carry an average of 80%. When your mouth becomes dry, it is a sign you are thirsty. You are not able to produce a lot of saliva because of the amount of water that is available. Your brain also tells your body you are thirsty. Athletes in hot weather who are not able to drink every time they feel thirsty might start performing differently due to the lack of water their body is going through. Water loss comes mostly from urine which is regulated by your kidneys. On average, the kidneys produce about one to two liters of urine a day but it mostly depends on the amount of fluids you consume. In the average healthy person, there is usually about a cup of water lost in the feces. More then 95% of the fluid in absorbed again before the feces are released.

Water is constantly running in and out of your body which is why you need to continue to drink it. Water is the most important nutrient that we must consume everyday. Without food mostly you could survive for about eight weeks but without water, you would only be able to survive a few days. Without enough water, it reduces your blood volume. The blood volume effects the ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells. At this point, the body then becomes dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration can include headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry mouth and eyes, and dark-colored urine. If it lasts for a while, the symptoms could then include nausea, difficulty concentrating, and confusion. Losing to much water, 10 to 20% of your body weight can be fatal and you will need to seek immediate medical attention.

Electrolytes are substances in water that are charged ions that conduct an electrical current in the body. A few important electrolytes include sodium, potassium, and chloride. Sodium is what helps your nerve transmission and your muscles contract. Without enough you might experience muscle cramps. Potassium is also a help to your nerves and let your muscles contact. The difference though is without enough potassium, you could have an irregular heartbeat, fatigue, and also muscle cramps. Chloride is very important since it balances your fluids. It is very rare for one to lack this electrolyte since it is found is most processed foods as well as salt. Consuming to much of these substances is also not a good thing because it could be to much for your body to continue to function.

Alcohol and caffeine are a big cause of dehydration. Alcohol inhibits the activity of antidiuretic hormone. This hormone signals your kidneys to reabsorb water which helps reduce the amount of of urine loss. Once the body already has enough ADH, its levels decrease so less water is reabsorbed and more is excreted in the urine. When you consume a large amount of alcohol, your hormones are told it is at its level so it continues to release the urine when actually, the only thing that your body is absorbing is alcohol. It does not give your body the ability to properly consume and absorb water. Caffeine also can cause dehydration. Since caffeine is sugar, consuming to much can also cause your body to not function properly.

It cannot store the liquids and there is no water to help your body to continue to function properly. To ensure you are getting enough water so you do not become dehydrated, there are a few things one can do. When people are exercising or doing anything that makes them release sweat, it is important that they try to drink water every couple of minutes. This allows your body to continue controlling its temperature. The weather also plays a big part in dehydration. Since your body tends to seat when it is hot outside, it is important to plan for the weather. If you are going to be outside, you need to make sure you are consuming a lot of liquids and you are better off taking a break from the heat every hour or so. Sports drinks give you the electrolytes such as sodium and potassium your body lost due to sweating. The only disadvantage of sports drinks is they can contain a large amount of sugar which does not help avoid dehydration. It is important to make sure you are consuming as much fluids that you are losing.