Dehydration – What causes it and how to prevent it
Dehydration is a condition in which your body ends up losing more fluid than it consumes. That, in turn, results in your body not having sufficient water to function normally. If you fail to make up for this loss, you will suffer from dehydration. While anybody can suffer from this condition, children and older people are more susceptible to it. It is very important to treat the body with lots of water, especially during hot weather.
The causes are:
- Sweating
Sweating is a natural process that helps in keeping the body temperature stable. When the body becomes very hot, the sweat glands get activated and release moisture from the body to cool it down. Evaporation plays a major role in this process. Sweating contributes towards hydrating the skin and balancing the presence of electrolytes in the body. While normal sweating is fine, excessive sweating is what causes dehydration. - Diarrhea
Diarrhea is something that strikes your body suddenly and in an almost violent manner. It results in a massive loss of water and electrolytes from the body in a short span of time. Electrolytes are the minerals that help the body in controlling muscle movement, regulating the flow of blood, and carrying out various organ-based functions. Your body feels weak and you find it difficult to go about your daily routine. Diarrhea is sometimes accompanied by vomiting and that contributes to even more fluid loss. - Fever
When you suffer from fever, the temperature of your body increases sharply and that leads to the body releasing sweat as a natural process to lower down the temperature. If the sweating happens in controlled proportions, then it is fine. But if you sweat profusely for a long period of time, it may result in dehydration.
The preventive measures are:
- Regular consumption of water
The most basic technique to avoid dehydration is to consume lots of water. The higher the water intake in your body, the lesser will be the chances of it getting dehydrated. In summers or when the weather is hot, you must be extra cautious about the amount of water you drink. People tend to sweat more during these seasons and, thus, the body invariably needs more water to make up for the fluid content that it has lost. - Do not ignore thirst
It is recommended for every individual to have at least eight cups of water every day. Most reports suggest a large number of people fail to give their body the amount of water it requires. Feeling thirsty many times a day is one of the earliest symptoms of the body suffering from a fluid deficiency. Respond well to thirst and drink water as and when you feel the need to. Always carry a bottle of water when you are traveling and make sure that you always have sufficient water at your disposal. - Include hydrating food items in your diet
Eating a wholesome diet is important to keep your body fit and healthy and making sure that your body stays away from diseases of different kinds. There are certain food items that are categorized as hydrating foods. Some of these food items are celery, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, spinach, watermelon soymilk, honeydew lemon, broccoli, and peaches.
