what is dehydration?

  • Dehydration occurs when the amount of water leaving the body is greater than the amount being taken in

Dehydration is the loss of fluids from the body and thirst is normally the first physical sign. But by the time you feel thirsty the process of internal dehydration has already started. Among other symptoms, you may not be able to concentrate, your blood pressure will begin to drop, your heart rate will increase as it has to work harder, and the kidneys become less efficient.

  • The human body is made up of 70% -75% water.
  • The brain is made up of 75 - 85% water.

If you deprive a fruit tree of water, the fruit shrivels and eventually                                                                                                  will die, and so the cells of the body process.

  •  A human being can survive for 3/4 weeks without                                                                                       food but only a few days without water .

Quite simply, the organs of the body cannot function.                                                                                                                        Water replenishes the bodys cooling system, and it is essential                                                                                                                in the processes of digestion, absorption, circulation and lubrication of the joints.  

We lose water routinely when we:

  • breathe
  • as humidified air leaves the body                                                                                                          Water-In-Human-Body
  • when we sweat to cool the body
  • when we urinate or have a bowel movement to rid the body of waste products.

In a normal day, a person has to drink a significant amount of water to replace this routine loss. Signs and symptoms of dehydration will occur quickly if the water is not replenished. The body is able to monitor the amount of fluid it needs to function.

The thirst mechanism signals the body to drink water when the body is dry. As well, hormones like anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) work with the kidney to limit the amount of water lost in the urine when the body needs to conserve water.