Dehydration and Health

dehydration and healthDehydration occurs when a person doesn’t drink enough water to restore fluid loss throughout the day and night. Inadequate water intake creates serious health problems; dehydration will impact physical and mental well-being over time. Many people are unaware of how much water they need to drink every day to keep their organs healthy. At Acupractic, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay reminds people to drink enough water every day and find new ways to achieve this critical health goal.

Low water volume impedes healing and exacerbates muscle and joint pain. Delirium and other metal disequilibrium increase the rate of injury. Back pain, neck tightness, headaches, shoulder tendonitis, hip dysplasia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and plantar fasciitis are painful conditions that heal more slowly with depleted body water. Other severe health conditions associated with dehydration include heat injury, urinary and kidney problems, seizures, and hypovolemic (low blood volume) shock. Other issues include constipation, lack of sweating, dry, shriveled skin, fever, confusion, sunken eyes, tachycardia, and unconsciousness.

What Causes Dehydration?

The loss of 10-15% of body water causes severe dehydration. Common causes of excess water loss include diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, fever, and polyurea. Excessive coffee, alcohol, or other diuretic beverages can promote water loss through increased urination. Hopefully, following episodes of excess water loss, people recognize that it is essential to drink more water to restore lost fluids. Nonetheless, many people walk around every day suffering from inadequate water intake even without these high loss scenarios because they do not make water drinking a regular habit throughout the day.

The US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an average adequate daily fluid intake for men is 15.5 cups (124 oz=3.7 liters), and for women is 11.5 cups (92 oz=2.7 liters). Another way to think about this is to strive daily to drink about ¾ of an ounce of water for each pound of body weight; a 150 lb person should drink 112.5 oz of water a day. Spread over a day; that is about one glass of water an hour.

It is vital to drink water-filled beverages rather than sodas, coffees, or other drinks that contain elements the body needs to remove or substances that increase diureses like caffeine and alcohol. Many drinks have artificial sweeteners, coloring molecules, flavoring agents, and other factors that impact their purity and impede the kidney’s natural elimination function that pure water enhances.

Many people do not drink enough water because they drink bottled water which is expensive and wasteful. In contrast, it may seem prudent to buy bottled water if you mistrust tap water; strongly re-consider the actual cost of this decision. Most tap water is at least as safe as bottled water which sits around in plastic bottles all day. If you still need to drink bottled water, consider using a home filter like Brita or getting a refillable water bottle with a built-in filter. Additionally, water bottling companies spend a lot of money marketing their products. It is unnecessary to spend money on water when it is free, safe, and available in sinks and water fountains everywhere.

Some people do not like the taste of water. It is ok to add natural flavors to the water to enhance its taste. Lemon, lime, essential oils, and non-caffeinated teas may help.

Some people work in professions where it is challenging to take bathroom breaks, so they avoid drinking water to keep from needing to use the restroom. Nurses, teachers, doctors, pilots, and anyone who has trouble taking breaks may find themselves in this situation. Try to drink more water at the start of each day and increase awareness to stay hydrated.

At Acupractic Natural Center, our goal is to help each person achieve better health. Naturally, We are about 60% water- the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, the lungs are about 83% water, the skin contains 64% water, the muscles and kidneys are 79% water, and the bones are 31% water. Even mild dehydration over time will significantly impact each organ and tissue’s ability to function, heal, and perform. Call (919) 929-1400, email schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website acudocnc.com to schedule your appointment today.

Serving the communities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Hillsborough, and the rest of the NC Triangle

205 Providence Rd. Chapel Hill NC 27514 | Phone: (919) 929-1400

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