How to Know When Your Body is Dehydrated

When one thinks of dehydration, I picture a human body that is completely diminished of its needed water. Dehydration can occur by not drinking the right amount of water your body needs, to go about its everyday functions. In this article I will give you various signs of dehydration.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Water
• Positive Attitude

1. Water is essential to the health and maintenance of your body because, the human body is made up of mostly water. Without water in the body, your body would not be able to function properly.
2. "Water is found in varying proportions in all the tissues of body; muscle is about 75% water and bone is 25% water. Some water is found inside your cells and is known as intracellular fluid, and some are referred to as extra cellular fluid." Water is needed to feed the cells in the body; without water in the muscles, your muscles would become depleted and an individual would not be as strong. Without water in the body, the human body would most likely cramp.
3. Some common functions of water in the body (beside the fact it feeds the cells) is that of, water is used by our body for tears (lubricates eyes), saliva (needed to crush food), and sweat (needed to cool the body). Water functions in chemical reactions; the chemical reaction of metabolism that supports life, is present in water. When the human body does not get the water it needs, your body will let you know that it needs water. For example, when you feel thirsty, that is your body telling you that it need more water. If you do not feed your body water when the need arrives, dehydration can occur. "Early symptoms of dehydration include thirst, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry eyes and mouth, and dark colored urine." Also, if your body continues to not get the water it needs, it can affect your thinking ability and physical performance.
4. Alcohol and caffeine can have tremendous affects on the body, by consuming too much alcohol; it can decrease the amount of water in the body. That is why, after a night of drinking, you may find yourself craving water the next morning.
5. Hypertension (a complex disorder) can result if a problem occurs in 1 or more instances that help maintain body fluid and/or electrolyte balance. Hypertension can also occur by inheritance or poor diet.
6. Some steps you can take to minimize the risk of becoming dehydrated is that of, when exercising, playing sports, etc. Make sure that you have water readily available to counterbalance sweat loss. Another way to minimize the risk of dehydration is that of, when eating or drinking products that decrease the amount of water in the body, make sure that you do not consume too much of that product without drinking water, or just simply give up indulging in that particular product or products.
7. Always remember, without water the whole entire human race can cease to exist.

Tips & Warnings

• Sodium, potassium, and chloride functions in the body:
• Sodium and potassium both positive charge ions; sodium is concentrated outside the cells, and potassium is concentrated inside the cells; Thus, working together to maintain nerve conduction and muscle contraction.
• As for chloride, sodium and chloride together, by triggering an imbalance in your brain that tells you that you are thirsty, and need to drink good old H20. Without these three electrolytes that trigger imbalances, your body would not know what to do next.
• Dehydration can cause death, so when you feel that your body is telling you that it needs water, it is wise to listen to your body signals. It can be fatal, when your body loses 10 to 20% of body weight.
• Without water your body can begin to shut down within a couple of days, depending on the temperature of where your body is located.