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What are the effects of dehydration on the human body?
The loss of water from the body, although in principle it constitutes a physiological means to balance body temperature, balance the concentration of circulating blood elements and minerals and as a vehicle for excretion of waste, when it is excessive and the losses are greater than the Income produces a deficit that alters the effective circulating volume and with it all the processes of acid-base regulation, metabolic, circulatory, synthesis and absorption of products.
Why is water consumption so important?
To maintain adequate hydration of the mucous membranes, regulate blood pressure, humidification of the air we breathe, for the proper dynamics of the digestive process, urine synthesis, among other benefits.
What are the causes of dehydration and how many glasses of water should you drink daily?
In children and adolescents, a common cause of dehydration is gastrointestinal diseases that can cause them to lose a lot of fluid through vomiting and diarrhea. Also being on a diet plan can cause water reserves to decrease.
Dehydration occurs when there is a deficit between what is ingested and what comes out (even imperceptibly), the losses being greater, as in fact occurs in cases of high fever, diarrhea and respiratory disorders. Water requirements are linked to body weight, so daily needs will be 25 to 30 cc/kilograms of weight or 1 cc/kilocalories total of the diet. So someone who weighs 70 kilograms (approximately 140 pounds) should drink at least 1.7 liters (7 8-ounce glasses) of water per day.
What symptoms does a dehydrated person present?
Dry skin and mucous membranes, weakness, poor diuresis, you may experience low blood pressure, confusion, impaired consciousness (including seizures), low cardiac output and kidney failure.
Can dehydration cause seizures and brain damage?
In fact, severe dehydration causes an imbalance between basic electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, a deficiency of which can cause seizures and cardiovascular disorders.
Tips to prevent dehydration
Improve our free water intake habits (do not replace it with coffee, juices, sodas or chichas) using the calculation that we have explained, do not ignore or postpone the feeling of thirst, protect yourself from excessive sun, increase daily water consumption if we are active physical or outdoor activities and adequately control the use of medications with a diuretic effect.
Risk groupsThe result of a study carried out on a sample of athletes from Tufts University in Massachusetts revealed that water calms bad moods, it turns out that the group that did not drink liquids throughout the practice was more aggressive, tense and distressed after the activity compared to the group that drank more water.
According to Dr. Kristen E. D'Anci, who led the study, the results of the tests showed that the athletes "presented dehydration comparable to that experienced by busy office workers who do not drink enough fluids throughout the day."
She added that the amount of water you drink depends on the physical activities you do, your physical build and whether it is hot or cold, but the specialist recommends drinking eight glasses of water a day.
Dr. José de Jesús García
Family and Elderly Care
Punta Pacifica Offices, 4th Floor
Phone number: (507) 204-8353 / 204-8314
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