Guest guest Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 > Here are some excellant words on why we need to drink enough water, even > when it is not hot, by n Whitaker, MD > > ===================== > > A few years ago, after finishing ninth in the Indy 500, racecar driver > Tony flew to Concord, North Carolina, to compete in > NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 that same night - a grueling feat in racing. During > the race, he began to feel nauseous and hot. By the race's > end, he had become so weak and dizzy that he was unable to climb out of > his car and had to be taken to the hospital to replenish his > fluids. > > Tony was suffering from dehydration, the combined result of exertion (he > drove 1,090 miles that day), heat, and inadequate fluid > intake. Although Tony's story is extreme, many people fail to drink enough > water and, as you'll see, this can have disastrous health > consequences. > > Your Body Is a Water-Based Environment > Two-thirds of the human body is water. It is the liquid portion of the > blood and the fluid found both inside and outside cells. > Water is required for the distribution of nutrients, electrolytes, > hormones, and other chemical messengers throughout the body, as > well as the removal of waste products. Water is involved in cellular > energy production and the maintenance of body temperature. It > is also an important structural component of skin, cartilage, and other > tissues. > > A precarious balance exists between fluid intake and output. You get water > from three sources: drink (60 percent), food (30 > percent), and cellular metabolism (10 percent). At the same time, you > constantly lose water. A sedentary person in a temperate > climate loses about two quarts of fluid per day, primarily through urine, > sweat, and respiration. That amount can jump to four to > six quarts per day in hot and/or humid weather, and one to three quarts > per hour during physical activity. It's easy to see how > fragile your body's water balance is. And, as Tony 's story > illustrates, dehydration can quickly take its toll. > > Dehydration Is a Health Risk > While extreme, life-threatening dehydration is recognized by most medical > professionals, more subtle water losses are often > overlooked. Physicians simply are not taught to recognize the hazards of > less severe dehydration. One of the most vocal > spokespersons on the dangers of inadequate water intake was F. > Batmanghelidj, MD. In his book, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, the > late Dr. Batmanghelidj proposes the paradigm-shifting theory that chronic > dehydration is the root of many of our health problems. > > As he points out, during a state of drought your body switches into its > " water conservation " mode. One of the primary ways it > ensures adequate hydration is by holding onto sodium. The result is sodium > retention, followed by a rise in fluid levels - the > precise mechanism involved in abnormal blood pressure. > > Lack of Water Contributes to Health Concerns > With more severe dehydration, your body is forced to get by on reduced > fluid volume, so it compensates by temporarily closing down > capillaries. While the brain and other vital organs continue to receive > enough blood to meet their basic needs, some tissues must go > without. As capillaries remain closed, the tissues they supply become > starved of nutrients and bogged down with cellular wastes. > Among the first areas affected are cartilage and synovial fluid, and the > result is discomfort in the joints. > > In addition, water-conserving chemicals are released. Chief among these is > histamine, which reduces water loss, but at the same time > may trigger respiratory problems. Prostaglandins and kinins are released > as well, which can lead to a variety of discomforts. As you > can see, too little water causes much more than thirst and a dry mouth - > it parches your entire body. > > Commit to Eight Glasses a Day > Many people believe they drink enough water. But most of the time, this > just isn't the case. Folks, the only way to ensure that you > are adequately hydrated is to drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of > water per day. > > Some of my patients tell me that the mere thought of drinking that much > water sends them running to the bathroom. It's true - you > are going to urinate more frequently. This is actually a useful indicator > of adequate hydration. If you're only producing small > quantities of dark, concentrated urine, you're not drinking enough. (To > ensure a good night's sleep, try cutting back on fluids two > or three hours before bedtime.) > > Another common complaint is that it's just too hard to remember to drink > that much water. The solution is to keep a filled water > bottle at your desk, in your car, and near your favorite chair - and to > reach for it before you feel thirsty. Years of chronic > dehydration suppress thirst signals, and your body is likely crying out > for water, even if you are not thirsty. > > Stay hydrated and healthy, > > n Whitaker, MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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