Dehydration: Why Everyone Is At Risk

There is a common misconception surround dehydration. People often think athletes are the ones at risk for dehydration and that drinking plain water can cure dehydration.

Dehydration Is The Excessive Loss Of Water From The Body

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can lead to dehydration. Fluid loss may even be severe enough to become life-threatening.

But some of the causes for dehydrations are: stress, survival situations, blood loss, diarrhea, hyperthermia, shock, vomiting, burns, drinking alcohol, taking stimulants, infectious diseases, diabetes, hyperglycemia, malnutrition, hyponatremia (especially from restricted salt diets), fasting and just forgetting to drink fluids during the course of the day!

Dehydration Can Speed Up The Aging Process

Babies are around 80% water when they are born. Adults are around 55% water and seniors can be lower than 50%!

Dehydration Dangers For Seniors

As we age we tend to want to drink less and becoming dehydrated is a real concern, especially for the elderly. Have you ever heard of your grandmother complain about being dizzy? She is probably dehydrated. For adults over age 50, the body’s thirst sensation diminishes. Many senior citizens suffer from dehydration. Dehydration along with hyperthermia results in seniors dying during extremely hot weather.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Symptoms of dehydration may be subtle to severe.

Symptoms of deyhdration are: headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, visual snow, decreased blood pressure, fainting, thirst, constipation, rapid heart rates, loss of appetite, decreased urine volume, fatigue, low endurance, flushing, lethargy, seizures, tiredness, irritability, dry mouth, elevated body temperatures and sleepiness.

The Best Way To Stop Dehydration For Good

There is considerable evdience that more and more people are affected by dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Their cases range from mild and severe. Just living in excessive heat can cause the body to become dehydrated. The quickest fix for dehyration is balancing the electryolytes. Diet, climate, stress, excercise, illness and medications all impact electrolyte levels.

Signs for imbalances are: low and high blood pressure, circulation problems, fatigue, illness and disease!

Give Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalances The Boot

Unforunately, drinking plain water only dilutes your electrolyte blance and can cause greater electrolyte imbalances. Mineral water contains a varity of minerals that upsets electrolye balance. Sports drinks provide carbohydrates, not electrolytes. Any sports drinks that claims to replace electrolytes simply cannot replicate the electrical charge due to sugar content.