Dehydration

| Dehydration | University of Phoenix Axia College SCI/241 | | Regina Hicks | 6/27/2010 | [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] | Dehydration is when the body has an excessive loss of body fluids, literally water. There are three main types of dehydration this includes: hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic. Hypotonic dehydration is when the body loses electrolytes, sodium and particular. Hypertonic dehydration means the body has lost plenty of water. Isotonic dehydration is the most common form of dehydration that people get because it effectively equates with the hypovolemia (decrease in volume of blood plasma). Some of the symptoms that a dehydrated person may feel include: headaches, muscle cramps, decrease blood pressure, and dizziness. Some of the symptoms that a person with mild dehydration may experience are thirst, decrease in the amount of urine, unusual dark urine, unexplained tiredness, irritability, no tears when you are crying, and dry mouth. Water is so essential to our health because it is part of our bodily function including our digestive system, absorption, circulatory system, and excretory bodily functions.  Water helps transport nutrients and waste products in and out of cells and is important for the body because generally we lose 2.5 L of water a day due to sweating, breathing, and going to the bathroom. Therefore we have to consume at least 2 L of water each day. Our body is made up of 55% to 78% water due to the specific individual. Our blood is made up of 83% water, muscles 75% water, brain 74% water, and your bone is 22% water. Having water in your body is essential to our health because our immune system would be weak to fight off colds and other illnesses. If you stay dehydrated your mental and physical performance can get better, raise energy levels, efficiently eliminate toxins and waste products from the body, and help lose weight, increase headaches, and help in digestion.   Water intake is important for the body because every cell in the body needs water to live. Vegetables, fruits, and milk are enriched with water so keeping these food items in our diet are very important for the body. The function of water in the body includes: * Water is the carrier of oxygen and nutrients to all our body cells when it is present in the blood. * Water helps the body fight disease when it is present in the lymph ( fluid found in the immune system) * Water assists in regulating and sustaining our body temperature. * Water prevents dehydration and thus, helps to control metabolism in the body.  * Water is important when digesting food. It also assist in removing different toxic elements from our body, when we sweat, urinate, and from fecal matter. * Water is essential in providing cushion for our joints and avoids shocks in them If the body is low of water then you can experience many symptoms of dehydration. The body needs the water to function properly and if you do not have enough water for the body you can experience dizziness, headaches, weak, and other symptoms of dehydration. It is very important to drink plenty of water throughout the day because you can become very ill if you do not. Since our body contains 70% of water it is essential that we have at least 8 cups of water every day. You can dehydrate from other things like vomiting and diarrhea because you lose an extensive amount of fluid. Water contains minerals and calcium that our body needs to healthy and alive. When a person becomes dehydrated their metabolism system becomes upset; and for good digestion you should drink enough water. Low water in the body can cause a person's blood pressure to be low, and their heart rate is slow as well. Electrolytes are the chemicals in the body which are required for regulating nerve and muscle function and other physiological functions. Electrolytes are the chemicals in the body and their main function is to control nerve and muscle and other physiological functions. Sodium, potassium and chloride are essential electrolytes our bodies need to function properly.  Sodium is used to regulate the quantity of water in the body. When sodium moves throughout the body it results in electric signals the body requires for communication between different cells. Potassium helps with the heart beat and muscle function.  Potassium also regulates the flow of fluids and minerals through the body’s cell. Potassium is an electrolyte that works closely with sodium and chloride. Sodium and potassium are positive ions whereas chloride is a negative ion which is used for maintaining the fluid balance in the body. The positive ions potassium and sodium create nerve impulses which control thought, movement, and responses. A high diet of potassium will help maintain healthy intracellular charges, which helps with muscle contraction and fluid balance. Foods that are rich with potassium include: fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, beans, whole milk and meats. The sodium concentration that is triggered from the reaction of sodium and chloride causes sensation of thirst in the body; and this causes us to drink. Alcohol can cause dehydration by depressing production of the anitdiuretic hormone called vasopressin. Vasopressin works on the kidneys and reduces the urine by enhancing the reabsorption of water and salt into the body. Vasopressin also helps regulate the concentration of fluids in the body, and interference with it will help lose body fluid from urination, leading towards dehydration. Minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc are lost because alcohol-induced water loss. These minerals are important nutrients that are interact in controlling fluid balance, and nerve, and muscle action. Caffeine has a downside to it as well when it comes to dehydration. The diuretic effect is possible because higher doses of caffeine is known to promote some water loss, due partly to increase blood flow to the kidneys and partly to reduced reabsorption of sodium by the body. The main step in preventing yourself from becoming dehydrated is drinking plenty of water daily. Drinking at least eight cups of water a day is good for the body to function properly because you release water when you breathe, urinate, and sweat. Another way of preventing dehydration when you have diarrhea is drinking plenty of fluids; babies can drink Pedialyte. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are good for preventing dehydration as well because they are rich with water. Other things that can cause the body to dehydrate is exercising. When you are exercising be sure to drink plenty of water or Gatorade because the body sweats, and drinking extra liquids can help restore REFERENCES Hamilton, A. (2007). Hydration for optimal sports performance. London, : PLP commercial printers impression house.(Hamilton, 2007). Health Benefits of Drinking Water. (2010). Articlesbase free online articles directory, (), 1. Retrieved from http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/health-benefits-of-drinking-water-477534.html Yahoo Incorporation. (2010). Yahoo! Answers. Retrieved from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylc=X3oDMTVnMDQ3dXRjBF9TAzIwMjMxNTI3MDIEYXBwaWQDTHJlazRUTFYzNEdR VjYwVDFRYVlHeC5xMDYuMHVja2pJb3dfYzJFV3NGejhWZzVHX2xkQjRPX1Yw eDZPdVNOME9zVjg2a0I2BGNsaWVudANib3NzBHNlcnZpY2UDQk9TUwRzbGsD dGl0bGUEc3JjcHZpZANHNXpfTEVnZUF1M2FhcU02cFFGSkxfNVQwRG1lOGt0 SGQ0RUFDejZV'qid=20081213141453AAdN3xe (Yahoo Incorporation, 2010).