Are You Sick or Just Thirsty? The Dangers of Dehydration

 

 

Feeling tired or distracted by a nagging headache? You might need to drink more water.  Our bodies are made up of approximately 70% water and that level is needed for essential functions like transporting nutrients, balancing metabolism and  flushing toxins out of vital organs.

Dehydration occurs when our bodies lose more fluids than we take in and can be caused by:

• Not drinking enough water
• Losing fluids through vomiting and diarrhea
• Medical conditions such as diabetes
• Extreme heat exposure
• Fever
• Weight loss

Many people are chronically dehydrated and don’t realize it. Dehydration can weaken the immune system and in severe cases can be fatal. Chronic dehydration often results in symptoms that are mistaken for other medical conditions such as migraine headaches, colitis, constipation, asthma and joint pain.

Symptoms of Dehydration

• Dark colored urine or low urine output
• Shortness of breath
• Low blood pressure
• Fatigue, weakness or dizziness
• Loss of energy and inability to concentrate
• Confusion
• Heart palpitations
• Inability to sweat or produce tears
• Headaches

How much water is enough?

A healthy person should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, and increase that amount during hot weather, illness or while exercising. It’s better to drink small amounts of water at a time rather then ingesting large amounts all at once.

4 Tips for Staying Hydrated

• Drink a glass of water with meals and between each meal
• Drink plenty of water before and after exercising
• Drink equal amounts of water for every dehydrating drink consumed like coffee, soda and alcohol
• Keep a reusable water bottle in your car, purse or desk to help remind you to sip water throughout the day

Drinking plenty of water every day is essential to good health. In addition to boosting our immune systems, staying hydrated can help with weight loss since proper hydration makes our stomach feel full faster and we’re less likely to mistake thirst for hunger. Keeping our bodies hydrated is also preventative medicine for more serious diseases like colon and bladder cancers.

For more information make an appointment by calling 0925-567-5329 • 0908-865-5662 • 0917-566-1932 • 458-0717 and schedule a consultation today.

Visit us at BRITANNIA MEDICAL CENTER - The Enclave