Dehydration

Water is a vital and important component of life. The lack of water can bring down an entire empire, and many have been victims of droughts. The world is covered 70% by water, but only 2.5% of that water is suitable for consumption (Ward, 2003). Amazing as the Earth is, the human body is also a marvelous system created by nature with cells that need water to survive. The human body needs water in order to live, just as much as it needs oxygen and nutrients. Water is essential for life to flourish and thrive. The lack of water can harm living individuals and have extreme consequences such as illness and death. The following report will explain the effects of water, and why it is so important for life.

What is Dehydration? According to the Mayo Clinic, Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If lost fluid remains un-replenished, one may suffer serious consequences. Water is essential to the human body because it is needed for daily bodily functions. Scientists claim that approximately 85% of the human brain, 80% of blood and 70% of human muscle is water. Every cell in the human body needs water to live (Mullins, 2002). Water helps to remove and flush harmful toxins from the human body. Breathing can cause for humans to take in harmful toxins that can be flushed out by water. Food also has toxins that can bring impurities to the human body, and only water can help to eliminate and flush them out. Lotions, make-up, creams, soaps, and skin applications also leave toxins and residue that can be removed by water. Water acts like a cleanser for all the cells and organs of the body. Another essential function of water is to carry oxygen and nutrients to all the cells in the body. Each cell is dependent on the vast network of vessels and veins, and it would stop working without water. Water is an important part of the process of metabolism. The body’s balance of water helps it keep its temperature and when dehydration starts, the body’s temperature and metabolism rate can rapidly change affecting all other systems of the body. According to the Food and Drug Administration, A reliable clue to indicate dehydration is a rapid drop in weight. This loss may equal several pounds in a few days (or at times hours). A rapid drop of over 10% (fifteen pounds in a person weighing 150 pounds) is considered severe. Symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from those of the original illness, but in general, the following signs are suggestive of dehydration; increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly if worsening on standing), darkening of the urine, or a decrease in urination. Severe dehydration can lead to changes in the body's chemistry, and can even become life-threatening.

What happens if the body does not get enough water or none at all? The body then goes into dehydration. The person suffering from dehydration becomes thirsty, tired, confused, and weak. Humans are able to live up to eight weeks without food, but only a few days without water (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006). When there is a great amount of water loss, the amount of blood in the body is reduced. A reduction in blood supply cuts down on the body’s ability to deliver nutrients and oxygen to each cell and to remove the toxins and waste products from the body. Toxicity and dangerous low levels of blood supply can have irreversible effects on the human body. Some of the early symptoms of dehydration are; headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry mouth, dry eyes, dark colored urine, dizziness, and irritability (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006). If dehydration continues, then it can escalate to: loss of thinking abilities, difficulty concentrating, confusion, disorientation, nausea, and loss of performance (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006). If dehydration still continues, then the effects can be kidney failure, organ failure, and even death. Water in many ways, holds the key to life on earth.

Why is water so important for bodily function? Water is important because it moves electrolytes through the body. According to a leading Medical author, Melissa Conrad, MD, Electrolytes are substances that become ions in solution and acquire the capacity to conduct electrolytes. The balance of electrolytes in the human body is essential for normal function of the body’s cells and organs. The most common electrolytes that are measured by medical doctors to make sure a body has a healthy range and balance of electrolytes are: Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride. Sodium is the major positive ion in fluid outside of cells. When combined with chloride, the resulting substance is table salt. Excess sodium is excreted in the urine. Sodium regulates the total amount of water in the body and the transmission of sodium into and out of individual cells also plays a role in critical body functions. Many processes in the body, especially in the brain, nervous system, and muscles, require electrical signals for communication. The movement of sodium is critical in generation of these electrical signals. Too much or too little sodium therefore can cause cells to malfunction, and extremes can be fatal. Potassium is the major positive ion found inside of cells. The proper level of potassium is essential for normal cell function. Among the many functions of potassium in the body are regulation of the heartbeat and function of the muscles. A seriously abnormal increase of potassium or decrease of potassium can profoundly affect the nervous system