›› Dehydration
Dehydration is more
common than you may think. It’s a commonly-known
problem, occurring when the body looses too much fluid without having
it replenished, but many people think that you only get dehydrated when
you’re extremely thirsty and are exercising for a long period
of time or stuck out in the Sahara desert with a cup of water and miles
and miles of sand between you and the nearest oasis. Of
course, these examples are both true. Many people who do
exercise don’t drink enough water while they work out, and
since they lose so much fluid through perspiration they do end up
dehydrated. The same is true for those trudging through the
desert, but these are extreme cases.
Many people become dehydrated through the course of their daily lives
because they’re not drinking enough water. Often
this happens gradually, and we’ll hardly notice it until at
one point in the afternoon we feel extremely thirsty. If this
happens to you, it’s a good indicator that you’ve
been dehydrated for awhile, since if you feel thirsty it’s a
definite sign of dehydration. Thirst isn’t the only
side-effect; dehydration often leaves people feeling tired, lethargic,
sickly, or even faint. Though you may be drinking liquid,
caffeinated beverages or drinks with high sugar content
aren’t very good at hydrating you, and diuretics like coffee
can even leave you more dehydrated.
Dehydration is also a big issue if your body is losing a lot of
unabsorbed water through diarrhea or vomiting. If this is the
case, not only is the body losing a lot of water, people have a hard
time replacing it if they feel sickly or nauseous. In most
cases this can be remedied by pushing fluids, and electrolyte mixtures
often speed the process of recovery. If the dehydration is
serious it may be necessary to take fluids through an IV, though this
is usually only required in extreme cases.
The best way to avoid dehydration, both in times of illness and in day
to day life, is to make sure that you’re drinking enough
water. It seems basic, but making an conscious effort to
drink plenty of water over the course of the day can have great effects
on your energy levels and your overall well-being.
It’s usually as simple as carrying around a water bottle or
keeping a glass of water filled on your counter at home, since if the
water is there in front of you, you’re more likely to drink
before you get dehydrated.
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A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
