Dehydration happens before you know it. Your body is already dehydrated before you experience symptoms.
You have probably heard that 65% to 75% of your body is made up of water. That is why it is so important to stay hydrated. Your body needs to continually take on water (and a lot of it) to function properly. This affects not just your physical health, but your mental health as well.
Do you ever experience the following symptoms?
- Unnaturally dry skin
- Few tears when you cry
- Muscle cramps
- You are tired all the time
- Bags under your eyes
- Rapid breathing or heartbeat
- Dry, sticky mouth
- You are thirsty all the time
Those are some common signs of mild to severe dehydration in teens and adults. Dangerous cholesterol levels, liver and joint damage, weak muscles, kidney stones and constipation are just a few of the health conditions dehydration can cause.
Problems can arise quickly when you don’t supply your body with the water it needs to function properly. Any lost liquids in your body should be replaced immediately. This means drinking a lot of water while you exercise, or any time you exert yourself physically.
What Causes Dehydration?
Some causes of dehydration make a lot of sense, like intense physical activity. You sweat out a lot of the water in your body, and if you do not replace that liquid, you can become dehydrated. Here are a few more reasons your body may not be properly hydrated.
- Alcohol poisoning
- Food-borne illnesses
- Frequent urination
- Side effects of medicine
- You don’t drink enough water
When you have diarrhea, your body does not properly absorb water from the foods you eat. This is the most common cause of dehydration. Blood pressure medications and antihistamines can also create a lack of hydration in some people.
How to Stay Properly Hydrated
You may drink plenty of water each and every day, and still find yourself with several of the dehydration symptoms mentioned above. This could be a case of adrenal fatigue. If you drink plenty of water throughout the day and are still thirsty, with cravings for salt and sugar, you may want to have an adrenal checkup.
However, most of the time, you simply need to drink plenty of water. Dehydration can be is a life-threatening condition. Most of the time you can combat this potential health problem simply by drinking water frequently throughout the day.
This means carrying bottled water with you as you move through your daily routine. Sports drinks, energy drinks and sodas do not count. Water is so important to normal bodily functions. From head to toe, inside and out, and even mentally, your body benefits from a healthy supply of water. Excess water will simply be passed through your system, so make sure you are drinking plenty of this simple but essential health drink.