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Dehydration

Dehydration Water is nearly a ubiquitous element on our planet, and yet numerous people suffer from low levels of dehydration on a continual basis. While the human body requires many micro and macronutrients, none can be said to be more present in its composition than water. As a result, water is essential to health maintenance. Water’s essential character is a result of its involvement in myriad functions within the human body. When the body is deprived of the water levels that it requires dehydration ensues. Alcohol and caffeine contribute to dehydration and the injurious symptoms that result. Water also serves as a medium for electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride which maintain water levels and facilitate the proper functioning of the nervous system. Finally, there are many things that people can do to prevent dehydration, but water requirements vary according to many factors.
Water is essential to the maintenance of health Water is a necessary component of human life, and the symptoms of its deficiency are one of the quickest to manifest of all nutrients. Water composes around 60% of an average adult’s weight, and this percentage is even higher among children. Whereas the human body is composed of numerous compounds none are more prevalent than water. While the presence of water varies among the different tissues in the body, it is nonetheless found in every bodily tissue. For example, though bone is composed of 25% water, muscle is composed of at least 75% water. Water is found both within and without cells, referred to as intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid respectively. As water is an essential ingredient in all bodily functions it is essential for the maintenance of health.

Functions of water in the body Water has many important functions within the body. Not only can water be said to bathe and lubricate the cells of the body, cleaning the internal and external surfaces, but water is also essential in the production of tears and synovial fluid which lubricates the joints. Water also is responsible for the production of saliva, for regulating body temperature, for cushioning the joints, and protecting the amniotic sac which protects the fetus. Water also delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body, and functions to remove the waste products by transporting the waste to the lungs and kidneys for excretion. Water is also the principal component of the body’s chemical reactions, serving as a perfect medium into which numerous compounds dissolve.
Results of failing to consume enough water When the human body does not receive adequate hydration it begins to suffer from dehydration. While dehydration can occur as a result of many circumstances, the signs and symptoms of dehydration are finite and predictable. Signs of dehydration include but are not limited to light-headedness, nausea, dizziness, thirst, tiredness, headache, dry mouth and the like. As the body is composed mostly of water, and as all of the processes of the human body involve water in some form, failure to consume enough water causes innumerable imbalances throughout the entire system. These imbalances vary according to the severity of the dehydration and can even be life-threatening. Severe manifestations of dehydration include sunken eyes, low blood pressure, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, severe dizziness, little or no urination, delirium, unconsciousness, and finally death. While the body can function at low levels of dehydration, it is deleterious and should be avoided (Mayo Clinic, 2011).

Sodium, potassium, and chloride – compared and contrasted Each of these critically important electrolytes serves different purposes in the human body, though all three can be said to play a role in helping the body to maintain a normal balance of fluids. Sodium and potassium ions move through the membrane of cells, combining to create nerve impulses. Sodium is predominantly located outside of the cells, while potassium is almost entirely contained within the cells. Too much or too little of either potassium or sodium ions can cause unhealthy reactions and can even be fatal. While both sodium and potassium ions are positively charged, chloride is a negatively charged ion. Like sodium, though, unlike potassium, chloride is principally located outside of the cells. While the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI’s) recommends that people in the United States and Canada consume more potassium, the DRI’s recommend a decrease in the intake of sodium and chloride.
The effects of alcohol and caffeine on hydration levels in the body While caffeine has long be thought to be a significant contributor to dehydration as it activates increased urination, moderate levels of caffeine have been shown to be safe in this regard; however, excessive levels of caffeine contribute to the process of dehydration and this can precipitate the symptoms of dehydration. In much the same way, alcohol is said to inhibit the activity of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which is a compound responsible for signaling the kidneys to reabsorb water so as to reduce the amount lost through urination. As a result of inhibiting ADH, water loss is increased and hydration levels are reduced (Caring 4 cancer, 2008).
Steps to avoid dehydration The human body is not capable of storing water. As a result of this inability, water is continually lost through urination and evaporation. To supplement this water loss, a continual supply of water must be consumed to maintain hydration. However, water requirements are largely dependent upon water losses. An athlete engaged in an athletic pursuit would need to consume more water than a student sitting at a computer for an entire day. Thus strenuous activities, environmental temperature and humidity, diet, and even medications can necessitate a higher level of daily water consumption to avoid dehydration. The DRI’s recommended average intake is 2.7 liters for women and 3.7 liters for men.
Conclusion
In the modern world, replete with medications, activities, and foodstuffs that deplete water levels, many people suffer on a regular basis with some measure of dehydration. Water is essential to human health and easily obtained. It is present and functions in every area of the human body and can be found to varying degrees in every human tissue. A lack of adequate hydration has been shown to result in a condition known as dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration are dependent upon its severity and can lead to death. Alcohol and caffeine have both been shown to contribute to dehydration as well as other factors such as activity and diet. Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride which are dissolved in water, facilitate numerous processes within the body; chief among these processes is the regulation of fluids and the facilitation of electrical activity in the nervous system. Finally, dehydration has been shown to be preventable by simply consuming enough water to offset the factors that deplete water within the body.

References
Caring 4 cancer. (2008, May). Do Caffeinated Beverages Cause Dehydration? Retrieved from http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/do-caffeinated-beverages-cause-dehydration.htm
Mayo Clinic. (2011, August 2). Dehydration. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=symptoms

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