Air, water, and food are the most essential things to human life. Without them we will die. Without air we will die in a few minutes. Without water we can maybe last a couple days. Without food we can sometimes go up to a month or more, depending on our motivation and our emergency reserves. Breathing is automatic, so we really don't have to worry about that, but drinking enough water isn't and sometimes dehydration can sneak up on us. During heat waves, for example, it's not uncommon for people to die of heat stroke, where dehydration plays a part, without even feeling thirsty. That's why it's important to understand what causes dehydration, so we can take precautions against it.
Of course, without doing anything, your body uses a certain amount of water every day. So you'll eventually get thirsty even if you just sit there. Your body is always filtering your blood to remove chemicals so they don't grow to dangerous levels in your blood. So even if you don't think you've done anything spectacular that requires water, keep on chugging it anyway. Your body needs it.
Another obvious activity that increases your need for water is exercise. This causes an increase in lactic acid in your muscles, which needs to be filtered out. Exercise also causes the body to heat up, causing excess perspiration, which uses plenty of water. Often times you can go through a rigorous workout and not feel thirsty. Keep in mind that thirst is a last minute warning signal, and be sure to drink plenty of water while exercising.
When you consume alcohol, you put a lot of stress on your body when it comes to digesting and metabolizing the alcohol. This requires plenty of water, which is why you feel so thirsty after a night of heavy drinking. Because thirst is a last ditch warning effort to drink some water, consider drinking plenty of water the night before, while you are drinking whatever else you happen to be drinking. This can also help avoiding that nasty hangover that has a habit of showing up the next morning.
Any drinks that contain caffeine also significantly dehydrate you, for a couple of reasons. Similar to alcohol, caffeine requires water to be broken down and metabolized. Also, caffeine is a diuretic, which increases your urinary output. This increased output naturally uses your valuable water supply, which makes you even more thirsty. For every cup of coffee or caffeine containing beverage you consume, consider drinking an extra glass of water to offset the effects.
These are some of the things which can cause dehydration, which can lead to other health problems like stress, excessive tiredness, and a weakened immune system. By making sure you offset these by drinking plenty of water, you'll be sure to stay healthy.
Of course, without doing anything, your body uses a certain amount of water every day. So you'll eventually get thirsty even if you just sit there. Your body is always filtering your blood to remove chemicals so they don't grow to dangerous levels in your blood. So even if you don't think you've done anything spectacular that requires water, keep on chugging it anyway. Your body needs it.
Another obvious activity that increases your need for water is exercise. This causes an increase in lactic acid in your muscles, which needs to be filtered out. Exercise also causes the body to heat up, causing excess perspiration, which uses plenty of water. Often times you can go through a rigorous workout and not feel thirsty. Keep in mind that thirst is a last minute warning signal, and be sure to drink plenty of water while exercising.
When you consume alcohol, you put a lot of stress on your body when it comes to digesting and metabolizing the alcohol. This requires plenty of water, which is why you feel so thirsty after a night of heavy drinking. Because thirst is a last ditch warning effort to drink some water, consider drinking plenty of water the night before, while you are drinking whatever else you happen to be drinking. This can also help avoiding that nasty hangover that has a habit of showing up the next morning.
Any drinks that contain caffeine also significantly dehydrate you, for a couple of reasons. Similar to alcohol, caffeine requires water to be broken down and metabolized. Also, caffeine is a diuretic, which increases your urinary output. This increased output naturally uses your valuable water supply, which makes you even more thirsty. For every cup of coffee or caffeine containing beverage you consume, consider drinking an extra glass of water to offset the effects.
These are some of the things which can cause dehydration, which can lead to other health problems like stress, excessive tiredness, and a weakened immune system. By making sure you offset these by drinking plenty of water, you'll be sure to stay healthy.
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