Water is an essential part of all living things. Sixty percent of adult body weight consists of water. It is of utmost importance since it cannot be stored in the body and replenishing of the water must occur constantly. It serves various vital functions in the body. It forms the medium through which enzymatic reactions occur in the body. In addition, it retains turgidity of muscular cells that define the body contours. Water helps regulate the body temperature. When the temperature rises, the body mechanism triggers sweating which leaves a cooling effect. The fluid also serves as an agent of transport.
It provides medium for transport of nutrients to the cell and transport of metabolic wastes from the cells. It is also responsible for ensuring smooth excretion process of catabolic products. Water, therefore, is essential to health as it helps regulate body processes. Apart from transport and cell integrity, water aids in detoxification processes by both diluting toxins and providing a medium for their excretion from the body. Thermo regulation process maintains the body at optimal health. This is because most body reactions are temperature sensitive and vital organs may switch from normal function when temperatures rise above 40 Degrees Celsius. In addition, water aids digestion and prevents constipation (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006).
Dehydration occurs when the water levels in the body fall below optimal. Validation of dehydration is based on body weight loss. There are three levels of dehydration based on total body weight loss; mild, moderate and severe. Mild dehydration occurs at weigh loss less than 3% while moderate level occurs at weight losses between 3% and not exceeding 9%. Above 9% body weight loss, severe dehydration occurs. This loss of water from the body is not positive and carries far bearing consequences. Serious consequences follow dehydration. Mild dehydration is not ease to detect since the heart rate and mental status remain normal.
At moderate dehydration, a person becomes restless and thirsts for water. The breathing rate elevates as so does the heart rate. The mouth is dry and the urine output decreases. Severe dehydration causes tachycardia to develop, eyes appear deeply sunken, tears dry up and mouth and tongue become parched. Causes of dehydration include excessive sweating because of heat (for example during exercise), fever and humidity, failure to take enough water, diseases that increase urine secretion, diarrhea and vomiting. When severe dehydration occurs, most body functions are impaired. In addition, body weight loss occurs (Mandleco & Potts, 2011).
Water loss affects the electrolyte function in the body. Clinically, there are three types of dehydration: isotonic, which is proportional loss of water and bodily electrolytes, hypotonic-where the electrolyte loss exceeds water loss, and hypertonic where water loss is in excess of electrolyte loss. Isotonic dehydration accounts for the majority of cases. Sodium forms the electrolyte in extracellular fluids. Movement of the electrolyte generates electrical signals necessary for proper functioning of the brain, nervous systems and the muscles as well as controlling the amount of water in the body. Proportionate loss of sodium and water causes isotonic dehydration.
In some cases, the rate of sodium loss exceeds water loss. This occurs when sodium and water exit the body through stool and only water is ingested. The intercellular electrolyte concentration increases causing the body to react by allowing water influx into the cells. This increases intravascular loss. In hypertonic dehydration, sodium levels increase in the extracellular space. Water from the cells enters the extracellular space causing an increase in blood volume and consequently blood pressure. This can in turn trigger vascular or heart diseases. Potassium forms the electrolyte found inside of the cell. It is responsible for generation of electrical impulses necessary for brain and muscle function. During hypertonic dehydration, the body cells begin active uptake of potassium from the extracellular fluid thus maintaining a healthy electrolyte balance.
Chloride, in contrast to sodium and potassium, carries a negative charge and forms electrolyte in the extracellular fluid and blood. It helps maintain the integrity of the intracellular and extracellular fluids. The level of chlorides varies directly with that of sodium in the electrolyte system. Increase in sodium causes an increase in chloride. All the three electrolytes work synergistically to maintain the fluid inside and outside of the cell at a balance (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006).
Bodies have a mechanism that regulates water loss. Alcohol and caffeine affect the inherent body mechanism and may impair the process. Excessive alcohol inhibits the action of Antidiuretic Hormone increasing the amount of water lost through urine. The excessive loss of water causes hangover effect after a drinking spree. Alcohol does this by blocking the release of ADH that controls water reabsorption. Water reabsorption occurs in the kidney with the help of the hormone. Similarly, caffeine, which is a stimulant, causes diuresis. Just like alcohol, caffeine stops secretion of the antidiuretic hormone triggering elevated water loss through urine.
Most people tend to take strong coffee in order to abate the hangover effect after taking alcohol. This worsens the dehydration. Caffeine is a main cause of dehydration especially in sportsmen involved in endurance activities. Caffeine, as a stimulant, enhances the release of fatty acids which when metabolized spare glycogen and delay fatigue (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006).
Occurrence of dehydration varies with age, activity, weather conditions and the health status of an individual. The intervention to reduce incidences of occurrence is different in the setups. Exercising in high humidity areas causes difficulty in the body dissipating heat. Sweat cannot evaporate from the body impeding the cooling effect. A sportsman should acclimatize with the climatic conditions of the area beforehand. Increasing the sodium uptake several days prior to an event can abate dehydration. During the event, the sportsmen should take fluids with sodium rather than ordinary water.
Exercising people can avoid dehydration by regular intervals of fluid intake regardless of not feeling thirst. Sicknesses accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea are principal causes of dehydration especially in children. Such illnesses include gastroenteritis. The dehydration is further aggravated as it reduces the child’s willingness to eat or take fluids. It is advisable that diseased people take a rest to reduce water loss by perspiration in cases where water absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is hard.
Medications such as Aspirin and Tylenol affect kidney function and aggravate dehydration. Lactating mother should take extra fluids to compensate for water lost through milk. The recommended daily uptake of water is two and half liters for a normal, healthy person. The body requires more than that, but the rest comes from metabolism. Exercising individuals and people involved in physical work require slightly higher amounts. Excess water poses no risk to a healthy individual due to the regulatory mechanism of the body (Otten et al, 2006).
References
Grosvenor, M. B. & Smolin, L. A. (2006). Nutrition: Everyday choices.New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Otten, J.J., Hellwig, J. P., & Meyers, L. D. (2006). Dietary reference intakes: The essential guide for nutrient requirements. Washington D.C: Natl Academies Pr.
Potts, N. L., & Mandleco, B. L. (2012). Pediatric nursing: Caring for children and their families. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.