Dehydration: causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches

Dehydration

Water is essential to health maintenance for a number of reasons. Firstly, two thirds of the human body consists of water. Maintaining this ratio of water is therefore essential to maintain human health at a fundamental, cellular level. Indeed, water is used to some extent for every function of the human body. The absence of sufficient water supplies in the body can therefore spell disaster.

Among its many functions, the following is included: Water transports nutrients to cells and waste products out of them. A lack of sufficient water will then result in insufficient nutrition at a cellular level. When waste products are not removed, disease can result. On a larger scale, water helps with digestion and excretion. It helps absorb nutrients from food into the body, and it also helps to absorb certain water-soluble vitamins from food. On a whole-body scale, water helps to maintain healthy blood circulation, and it helps to regulate the body's temperature (REACT, 2007). When water is therefore removed from the body, the human being can become ill on every physical level, making sufficient water intake essential.

According to REACT (2007), the body loses 250ml of water on a daily basis through breathing. This measurement does not take into account weather conditions or unusual human activity such as working out. In such cases, even more water is lost, and it is necessary to replace this water regularly, or dehydration could result. When this happens, several signs can be distinguished to serve as warning signals of dehydration.

Symptoms of dehydration can include headaches, poor concentration, tiredness, increased risk of kidney infections, and constipation (REACT, 2007). According to Klotter (2001), further physiological warning signs include dark-colored urine, fatigue, irritability, and even food cravings and allergies. Klotter also cites the expert Dr. Batmanghelidj, in listing emergency signals of dehydration, which include morning sickness, dyspeptic pain, back pain, late-onset diabetes and hypertension. Long-term dehydration can lead to severe illness and ultimately to death as a result of heart failure, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

According to Klotter (2001), what specifically happens inside the body is that the neurotransmitter histamine is activated when the body becomes dehydrated. This then activates prostaglandins, kinins, and vasopressin to prioritize the distribution of the water that remains available. Furthermore, Prostaglandin E. then can contribute to high blood sugar, as it manages water regulation during dehydration and inhibits the manufacture of insulin. In addition to the above-mentioned detectable symptoms, unchecked dehydration can cause severe damage such as DNA damage, a reduced DNA repair system, immune suppression, and irregular protein production. The latter can encourage cancer cells to form (Klotter, 2001).

The tragic fact is that, in addition to unhealthy eating habits related to the modern lifestyle, people also do not drink enough water. This is exacerbated by the fact that human beings become less aware of their thirst as they grow. This happens because growth hormones regulate water, along with histamine. People then become less aware of thirst and drink less water, resulting in less water content within cells. The ultimate result is gradual dehydration. Modern human beings then tend to ascribe dehydration-related pain such as headaches to their stress levels, and take medication to control it rather than addressing the true source of the problem. In many ways, this is also responsible for and compounded by the bad eating habits and obesity so prevalent in today's Western societies.

Electrolytes work in conjunction with the water levels in the body, and is responsible for conducting electricity within the body. This is essential for the normal functioning of cells and organs. Sodium and potassium are both positive ions, or cations, within the body, while chloride is a negatively charged anion. Sodium and Chloride are found in fluids outside of cells, while potassium is found inside of cells. Sodium is responsible for water regulation in the body, as well as electrical signals to and from the brain. Too much or too little sodium can be fatal. Excess is discarded through urine. Inside cells, potassium regulates the heartbeat and function of muscles. A lack or excess of this electrolyte can also be fatal, as it can lead to heart failure. Chloride works in conjunction with Sodium in order to maintain the fluid balance in the body. Too little chloride is indicated by problems such as diarrhea, and an excess can lead to problems such as vomiting or kidney disease (Stoppler, 2006).

Alcohol, a depressant, and caffeine, a stimulant, provide the body with water on a temporary level only. They are however diuretics that are responsible for more water loss than replacement. Persons who drink these substances should ensure that they replace water loss with extra water intake.

Several steps can be taken to ensure that a person does not become dehydrated. Elements such as weather conditions and exercise levels should be taken into account when assessing one's hydration needs. When exercising, an athlete should ensure that he or she drinks enough water, although over hydration should also be guarded against (Sutherland, 2005). This is not a common condition, but untrained athletes may tend to over hydrate during exercise. As the effects of this can be severe, it is a danger that athletes should be aware of.