The majority of the human anatomy is made up of
water, with up to 75% of the body’s weight due to water. Most of the water is
found within the cells of the body (intracellular space). The rest is found in
the so called extracellular space, which consists of the blood vessels
(intravascular space) and the spaces between cells (interstitial space). Our total
body water is the sum totals of our intracellular space + intravascular space +
interstitial space.
Our awareness of the importance of water to our body’s
anatomy and physiology will go a long way to help us see the need to stay
constantly well hydrated.
All the cells and organs in our body depend on water
for their proper functioning. Just as a car cannot function without oil, so the
body cannot work without water. Next to air, water is the most essential
provision everyone requires for survival.
Because our body is very dynamic and always
changing, dehydration can and do occur. This is when the amount of water
leaving the body is greater than the amount being taken in. This is especially true
with water in the body. We lose water routinely when we breathe, as humidified
air leaves the body, when we sweat to cool the body, and when we urinate or
have a bowel movement to rid the body of waste products.
In a normal day, a person has to drink a significant
amount of water to replace this routine loss. If intravascular (within the
blood vessels) water is lost, the body can compensate somewhat by shifting
water from cells into the blood vessels, but this is a very short term solution.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration will however occur quickly if the water is
not replenished. The body is able to monitor the amount of fluid it needs to
function and the thirst mechanism signals the body to drink water when the body
is dry. Also, hormones like anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) work with the kidney to
limit the amount of water lost in the urine when the body needs to conserve
water.
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| Photo credit: webmd.com |
The body’s initial responses to dehydration are;
·
Thirst to increase water intake along
with
·
Decreased urine output to try to
conserve water.
The urine will become concentrated and more yellow
in colour.
As the level of water loss increases without
adequate replacement, more symptoms become apparent. The following are further
signs and symptoms of dehydration:
·
Chronic pain in the joints and muscles.
·
Lower back pain
·
Headaches
·
Constipation
·
Fuzzy short term memory
·
Mental and physical fatigue
Thirst is like the first sign that alerts us to the
need for rehydration. Many of us wait for this sign before drinking water, but
the truth however is that your body had needed water long before you feel that
thirst! The advisable thing to do therefore is to make an habit of drinking
water at regular interval even when there is no thirst.
Some means of getting water
·
Drinking water- obviously
·
Fruits and vegetables have high water
content
·
Other drinks (not so healthy)
·
Food – the food we eat normally do
supply about 20% of our daily water need.
Thanks for reading!
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