Water for Health and Beauty!

There are many reasons why you may become dehydrated (the loss of too much body fluid). Dehydration can become serious if left untreated. It can also sneak up on you over a course of days if you:

• Are in high altitude
• Are in hot summer days or desert conditions
• Are busy and forget to drink enough water
• Drink diuretics such as coffee, soda, or energy drinks and do not offset the water loss with additional water intake
• Exercise and forget to take in enough water before, during, and after the session

Dehydration Symptoms include:

Whether mild or severe, symptoms of dehydration may begin to appear before total dehydration takes place. The following are

• sleepiness
• dry mouth and increased thirst
• decreased urination and less tear production
• dry skin
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• headaches
• and/or constipation

Reasons or contributing factors to dehydration are:

• Not drinking enough water
• Not feeling thirsty and therefore not drinking sufficient quantities of fluids
• Not drinking enough to compensate for heat, altitude, exercise, or exertion
• Repeated diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, or exercise without replenishing fluids that have been lost
• Increased urination due to diabetes, diuretics, or even some blood pressure medications
• Having physical limitations that make it hard to drink or hold a glass
• Choosing not to drink because of an inability to control your bladder (incontinence)
• Having weakened kidneys, diabetes, or heart failure
• Taking medications that cause your body to increase urine output
• Being a young child, especially with diarrhea
• Being an older adult, particularly one who is less able to adjust to temperature changes, suffers from chronic illness or dementia, takes certain medications, or is unable to take adequate care of him or herself
• Living, working, or exercising at high altitudes, which may cause increased breathing to maintain blood oxygen levels and may result in exhaling more water vapor
• Working or exercising in hot or humid weather, which may cause the body to produce more sweat to maintain cooler body temperatures and may result in increased water loss
• Being an endurance athlete, especially in extreme weather conditions[i]

Remember: to ensure adequate hydration, be sure to measure your daily water intake and increase as needed based on the factors noted above!