Water is an essential component of the human body;not only is water required for regulating the body temperature but also for various other functions like assisting in digestion, protecting organs and joints as well as keeping the concentration of the blood at an optimum level and the skin moisturized. Most of us drink water whenever we are thirsty; however, the concept of hydration is not too clearly understood by everyone. Some common myths debunked:
Dehydration Is Merely Uncomfortable Not Hazardous
Fortunately, most of us just experience mild symptoms of dehydration like reduced urine or sweating, lethargy or headaches, severe dehydration can lead to complications like seizures, swelling of the brain, kidney failure, and tragically even death. While some extra fluid intake can take care of mild dehydration, if measures are not taken in time this can lead to severe thirst, confusion and dizziness and even inability to pass urine. Children and the aged are particularly at risk of developing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, fever, confusion or irritability.
Being Thirsty Is A Sign of Dehydration
The truth is feeling thirsty is the way the body informs us of the need to drink water, however just because you feel the urge to slake your thirst, it does not mean that you are dehydrated. Our bodies are extremely sensitive and even when the reduction of water level is minor it can send signals to drink more fluids. The thirst mechanism works all the time in all animals and indicates the necessity of drinking water the minute the body perceives that the balance of water in the body has gone awry even by a small amount.
You Should Make It a Point to Drink Eight Glasses of Water Every Day
While some say you should only drink to the extent that your thirst is slaked, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) advises a daily intake of 3 liters and 2.2 liters for men and women respectively. You need to keep in mind that the daily intake of fluids does not necessarily have to be from water alone; beverages like tea and coffee, aerated drinks, fruit juices and even fooditems, especially those with high water content like cucumbers and watermelons can supply hydration. Refer to author choice for the best ways of keeping hydrated.
You Can’t Drink Too Much Water
While it is perfectly okay to drink as much water as you like to quench your thirst and some more, you should be careful not to drink so much water that you could end up with a condition called hyponatremia, that is symptomized by swelling up of cells due to extreme dilution of sodium levels in the body. When this happens you will experience headaches, vomiting, nausea, fatigue and confusion and it can even lead to seizures and coma. However, the good news is that you need to be drinking really copious amounts of water, far beyond what you actually need to satisfy your thirst, to suffer from hyponatremia.
Conclusion
The feeling of thirst is an indication by the body that you need to consume fluids. While there is no right amount of water that has been defined, it is usually sufficient to drink as much water that will slake your thirst. If you are exposed to extreme conditions like high temperature or if you are losing fluids due to conditions like diarrhea then you should take extra care to ensure that the electrolytic balance of the body is kept intact.
Author bio: Andrew Thompson is a renowned writer who focuses on scientific articles. He has a passion for science and he has been a researcher for several years.. Andrew runs a regular feature on author choice of various fairness regimens and health diets, including fluid intake.