Dehydration

Dehydration: Cause and Effects By Unknown SCI/241 Water is essential for human life on average 60% to 65% of the bodies total mass is water. It forms the basis for all body fluids, including blood, and digestive juices. Water aids in the transportation and absorption of nutrients, and it helps eliminate waste. The average human uses 2.5 liters of water per day by simply breathing, sweating, and eliminating waste. We also lose electrolytes or minerals such as sodium, potassium, and calcium that maintain the balance of fluids in our bodies. We can replenish fluids in our bodies through foods and fluids we consume, but drinking additional glasses of water is important to maintain our health. When we do not eat or drink enough fluids to rehydrate ourselves dehydration occurs, and in extreme cases of dehydration death may occur. Water is the essence of life every part of our bodies has some water in them. Our brains are about 85% water, bones contain between 10 to 15% water. The ability of water to disassemble and rearrange other molecules makes it essential to life itself. We know water is the perfect conductor of electricity. That is why water is essential for our brains neurons to use to produce thought. Water is also the best dietary aid and fat reducer around it suppresses appetite, reduces sodium build up, and helps maintain muscle tone. Water helps the body eliminate waste and toxins. Water reduces fat deposits by helping the body metabolize the fat that our bodies store. Water keeps our skin young and healthy looking. When our kidneys do not obtain enough water this causes the liver to overload because the liver is the organ that metabolizes fat, it cannot do it if it is doing the kidneys job. Every cell, tissue, and organ in our body relies on water for its very existence. That is why when we do not consume enough water our bodies will store what water it can get with a vengeance. This is why when people do start exercising they lose a large amount of weight quickly. That is excess water weight our bodies have been storing for just in case it does not obtain any water through the fluids we drink, or foods we eat. How electrolytes function in the human body' Sodium is the major positive ion outside the cell membrane it also regulates the amount of water in the body. Sodium is also responsible for generating electrical signals to the brain, nervous system, and muscles. If our sodium levels are too high or too low it can cause our cells to malfunction, and in extreme cases cause death. Potassium is the major positive ion found inside cells it regulates our heartbeat, nerve impulses, and muscle function and is required for normal cell function. When potassium levels are too low a condition called hypokalemia occurs. When potassium levels are too high a condition called hyperkalemia occurs. The symptoms of both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are abnormal heart rhythm, a breakdown of muscle fibers, fatigue, and constipation, and in extreme cases death can occur. Chloride is the major anion and is required to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, extracellular volume, and serum osmolality. Early symptoms of dehydration are dry or sticky mouth, thirst, decreased urine output, dizziness, or lightheadedness. The best way to gauge your hydration level is to examine your urine. If your urine is a light color then you are well hydrated, whereas if your urine is dark yellow this usually signals dehydration. More severe symptoms of dehydration are extreme thirst, a very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes, a lack of sweating, little or no urine output, sunken eyes, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, fever, and in the most severe cases delirium or unconsciousness. At this point the patient needs immediate medical attention and have fluids administered immediately or death will occur. How can we avoid becoming dehydrated' Whether you are an extreme athlete or a weekend warrior we each must replenish the fluids we use. We can do this by drinking large amounts of fluids and by eating fruits and vegetables that have water in them such as apples, and pears. The first warning sign of when you are becoming dehydrated is thirst, and if you are exercising do not wait for your thirst to catch up with your fluids. One thing to avoid doing before you are to compete in an athletic event is over hydrate yourself. This can cause bloating and discomfort and may lead to a potentially fatal condition called hyponatremia in which your blood sodium level is too low. This happens when you consume more fluids than you release through sweating. What effects can alcohol and caffeine have when trying to rehydrate your body' The major reason alcohol and caffeine should not be used to quench your thirst is that they cause dehydration. Alcohol disrupts the levels of many hormones in the body, including the antidiuretic vasopressin. Without this hormone the body attempts to flush itself by expelling water through our urine leading to dehydration, and leading to additional alcohol consumption. That is why when we drink and then we urinate we feel the need to drink more alcohol because our bodies are trying to replace the water, and keep us hydrated. Caffeine causes a temporary increase in our metabolism that uses up our bodies energy more rapidly. This causes a minor loss of water from our bodies. Caffeine also has a biochemical diuretic effect similar to alcohol but is far less intense than the effects that alcohol has. However, a recent report on MSNBC and conducted by the University of Connecticut shows that, although caffeine does exert a diuretic effect on the body, it appears that moderate intake (about three cups of coffee) has little or no effect on hydration. To avoid becoming dehydrated in the first place no matter what kind of exercising you, are doing from household chores to competing in a triathlon is to drink large amounts of water every day at least eight cups or more if necessary. By doing this you not only will quench your thirst you will be providing every living organism in your body the nourishment it needs to survive. Water lubricates our digestive tract and keeps our skin looking young and healthy. By drinking water you will also be assisting your body’s ability to digest food, and its ability to gain nourishment from that food, and then to expel the food once the nourishment has been obtained. References: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5601480_effects-alcohol-caffeine-hydration-body.html http://www.medicinenet.com/dehydration/page2.htm