Assignment - Dehyrdation

Assingment: Dehydration

Have you ever noticed after working out at the gym you may be a little dizzy, or nauseous? It’s because you are dehydrated – which means “excessive loss of water resulting in depletion of body fluids” (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006). Adults lose nearly two to three quarts (12 cups) of water every day! We lose one half cup to one cup a day from the soles of our feet. Another two to four cups are lost from breathing. Perspiration accounts for another two cups. Another three pints (six cups) are lost in urine. Urine output decreases and becomes very concentrated when you don't take in enough water. Since there is no way for your body to store water, it sets up a priority system for the amount that has been made available by intake. According to Grosvenor & Smolin (2006) states that men are more watery than women. A man’s body is 60 to 65% water, compared to 50 to 60% for a woman. This difference is because men have more muscle, which contains a lot of water, and women have more fat, which has almost no water.

Water is essential to our health because it helps nearly every part of the human body function. Because of easy access we take water for granted and do not realize the importance of proper hydration. “According to experts, water is ranked second only to oxygen as essential for life” (Walker, 2008). The maintenance of our health is important also – such as hygiene; drinking water helps your body feel fresh, and our mouth not feel as dry and icky with bad breath. I noticed for me personally that if I drink plenty of water my skin feels hydrated and soft, there have been days when I don’t get to drink that much water and I notice that my skin feels rough and dry, it’s amazing what water can do for you body and make you feel good and awake.

Every function in your body takes place in water. It is the solvent that removes the nutrients, hormones, antibodies and oxygen through your blood stream and lymphatic system. Water is also necessary to move the waste out of your body. If you are not drinking enough water, your body has to recycle dirty water and every metabolic function in your body does not work as efficiently. When you are dehydrated your body rations and recycles water. All water losing functions are reduced. Toxic wastes are dumped into tissues, fat, joints and muscles instead being eliminated.

Water intake is very important for everyone’s bodies; you’re supposed to have eight glasses of water every day to maintain hydrated in your body. People who do not drink enough water can become dehydrated which is where the water level in the body is really low. However, there are other ways someone can become dehydrated like vomiting, or having diarrhea. Once a person gets dehydrated, his/her mouth becomes too dry. There is no urine and tear production and eyes become saggy and a person becomes very lethargic and lazy. Water contains all the minerals, calcium and other things which are required for a body to be alive and healthy. Also for good digestion, it is always suggested to have enough water. However, once a person gets dehydrated, the whole metabolism system also gets upset. When a person does not get enough water, his/her blood pressure will be low and the heart beat is also very slow. So it is very important to have