The human body is composed mostly of water! We need water for every healthy function that the body does, and when we become dehydrated, those functions suffer.
Dehydration is a loss of water, and one of the main causes is the lack of water intake. Some of the symptoms of dehydration are leg cramps, headaches, dizziness, trouble focusing visually, and low blood pressure. Urine flow is usually impeded as well as being very dark. Untreated dehydration will lead to unconsciousness and then death.
How do people get to the point of dehydration? People who hike in the desert have the obvious cause of extreme heat. But the elderly really suffer as well, as the thirst response in the human body decreases with age. Many patients in nursing homes have to be reminded constantly to drink. Dehydration along with hypothermia results in senior citizens dying during extreme hot weather!
The word dehydration is from the Greek hydor which means water, and the prefix de, which means the lack of or removal and separation. Our body is made up of about seventy-five percent water, as we have water inside our cells and within blood vessels. The human body has an ingenious method of using this water, and that is when we get the thirst reflex. The body is so sophisticated that it can even shift water around those areas of the body that needs it. We lose water throughout the day as we breathe, sweat, urinate and defecate, so it is vitally important that that water get replaced!
The people that are at risk of being dehydrated are the elderly, which have been mentioned, but also athletes, the sick, children and also people that live in high altitudes. Even a small amount of dehydration can cause us to feel lethargic, headachey, and not as alert as we should be.
Any of the above symptoms are a warning sign that the body demands the replacement of water. Severe dehydration causes death, so before reaching that point it's important to be aware of what your body is telling you, and to act upon it! Many folks carry water bottles around with them through the day, as water is always a better alternative than soft drinks. The bottled water industry has exploded within the last decade, turning into a billion dollar a year business! Lately, the vitamin water industry has also made it's mark with consumers. That is all well and good, but plain old tap water will do the trick just fine, unless you can't stand the taste!