Importance of hydration

We have all heard that dehydration is a condition we want to avoid, which makes sense considering the human body is made up of about 70% water, and this important liquid is vital for the majority of our bodily functions, protecting our joints, and maintaining healthy organs.

Water, that is a main constituent of blood, helps in dissipation of heat as well as in delivery of oxygen and nutrients to plus removal of waste products from the muscle.

Dehydration & it’s effects

During dehydration the heart is forced to work harder to help improve the body’s ability to cool itself.

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in.

During body warming water continuously moves out of the body’s individual cells, and eventually out of the body as water vapour through breathing, as well as in our sweat and urine. If this water is not replaced through drinking, the body can begin to lose its ability to function normally.

Symptoms of dehydration

Muscles fatigue & cramps

Fatigue is one of the most common outcomes of dehydration and one that most of us have felt. In a dehydrated state, body’s electrolytes that carry messages to active muscle can become imbalanced leading to involuntary muscle contractions and muscle seizures.

Symptoms of dehydration

Rapid heart & breathing rates

An increase in the rates you breathe and your heart beats when dehydrated can leave you with the feeling that you can’t catch your breath. This is why you may eventually feel fatigue and faintness. If dehydration is severe, you can appear delirious and even lose consciousness.

Symptoms of dehydration

Dizziness or lightheadedness

We have all experienced differing amounts of dizziness or lightheadedness when we stand up too quickly. This unpleasant and potentially dangerous sensation is called orthostatic intolerance. Orthostatic intolerance is exaggerated during dehydration and this gives a greater drop in your blood pressure or hypotension when one changes posture quickly.

Symptoms of dehydration

Confusion & decrease in
cognitive functions

If the body is severely robbed of water, the sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness can evolve into the reduced ability to pay attention, remember things, make suitable decisions, and react.

Other less life-threatening but unwanted symptoms of dehydration include headaches, increased joint pain, bad breath, a lowering in the ability for your skin when pinched to shrink back to its normal position and this causes a wrinkly appearance of the skin. With longer term dehydration constipation is evident as water is needed for effective digestion and it helps keep your intestines working normally.

These dehydration effects are heightened when you exercise in strenuous aerobic or endurance sport activities. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, ≥ 2% body mass is a threshold beyond human performance can become impaired and this affects aerobic or endurance performance.

Symptoms of dehydration

Blood volume & dehydration

Blood volume is one of the most important factors affected by dehydration and this has important consequences. Blood volume is a term that refers to the amount of red blood cells and plasma in our circulatory system. Blood is primarily water and has numerous necessary and important dissolved chemicals.

Red blood cells transport the majority of the oxygen to cells within muscles and organs. A reduction in plasma volume during dehydration increases how hard your heart has to work to maintain optimal performance in aerobic or endurance sports.

The bottom line–blood volume and its constituent plasma volume are important factors in affecting aerobic exercise performance as well as risk for heat injuries including, heat cramps, heat exhaustion as well as heat stroke.

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