Everyone knows that water is essential for human survival. The amount of water needed by the body is calculated according to age, gender, and body weight. On average, the human body is made up of 55-60% water. Many people think that the water we drink is for the proper circulation of blood in the body. But the water we drink also helps prevent the joints, eyes, and internal organs from wearing out and helps maintain a stable body temperature.
Water is lost from our body in various ways, such as through sweat, urine, feces, and breath. When too much water is lost, the body starts to become dehydrated. If there is not enough water in the body and the body is dehydrated, it will show us some symptoms. We can use this to know that the water we drink is not enough for the body.
The following is a list of problems that can occur in the body if a person does not drink enough water.
Frequent thirst: If you often feel very thirsty within minutes of drinking water, it means that your body is not hydrated enough. In addition, your tongue and lips will also be very dry. So if you notice these symptoms, increase the amount of water you drink.
Decreased urination: The kidneys play a key role in maintaining the body’s water balance. Most of the water in the body is excreted through urine. When the body’s water level is low, sensory receptors in the brain send signals to release anti-diuretic hormones. These hormones reach the kidneys and form cellular water channels called aquaporins, which prevent water from being drawn from the blood to the kidneys. This causes the urine to become more concentrated and the amount of urine excreted to decrease.
Apart from that, the color of the urine is dark yellow with a strong odor. Especially if a person has not urinated for more than 8 hours or if the urine is brown or red in color, one should consult a doctor immediately.
Constipation: Lack of physical activity and low fiber intake, coupled with low hydration levels in the body, can lead to constipation. If a person is dehydrated, their bowel movements become affected and they have difficulty passing stool.
Weak or fast pulse: When a person does not drink enough water, the density of the blood in his body starts to decrease. This causes difficulty in sending blood from the heart to the body organs. This means that the heart has to work harder. Due to this, sometimes the heartbeat is weak and sometimes fast.
Mood swings: If there is even a slight dehydration in the body, it will greatly affect daily tasks. Even small tasks will have to be done with great difficulty. Mainly, there will be mood swings.
Migraine: Dehydration can trigger migraines. This is because when blood flow in the blood vessels is poor, the blood vessels in the brain start to constrict, causing severe headaches.
Fatigue easily: As mentioned earlier, when the heart is overworked, the body becomes easily fatigued. In addition, mental fatigue increases and you may become confused and unable to make decisions.
Dizziness: When the body is dehydrated, blood pressure drops, and you may experience frequent dizziness or lightheadedness. This type of dizziness occurs especially when you suddenly stand up from a sitting position or when you sit down.