Being dehydrated is much more than just needing to take a couple swigs from your Super Big Gulp. Our bodies are made primarily out of water, and without a consistent supply of H2O, we don’t have a chance. And between being thirsty and being dead, there are plenty of other damages that dehydration does to the body. It’s pretty important, then to be able to know when you need more water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Sometimes prolonged dehydration can cause some serious health effects.
Every year during summertime, there’s the occasional heat wave. And unfortunately, many people die during these times. Lots of people drink the same amount of water, or other fluids, every day regardless of the temperature of the weather. Knowing when the warning signs of dehydration are present so you don’t succumb to a surprise bout of heat exhaustion which could easily kill you.
One sign of dehydration is fatigue and feelings of lethargy. When your body has less than a sufficient amount of water, it takes much more energy to perform the daily operations, like digesting your food and changing it into energy. Without enough water, you will have less energy. This can sometimes feel like you need a nap, or maybe you didn’t get enough sleep, but in reality you need to increase your water intake.
An additional warning sign of dehydration is muscle soreness. When you exercise your muscles, this creates lactic acid as a result. Without proper hydration, this acid won’t get flushed out, and can result in soreness. If you are feeling more sore than usual, or are sore for no apparent reason, consider increasing your water intake.
The easiest way to tell if you are dehydrated is by checking the color of your urine. The purpose of urination is to clean out your blood of unwanted chemicals before they build up to dangerous levels. When these chemicals are present in your urine, it will be yellow. When you are drinking enough water, and all of these chemicals are getting flushed out, your urine will be clear.
The good news is that by only listening to your thirst, you can do a pretty good job of keeping yourself hydrated. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this feeling of thirst is really a last stage warning signal that shouldn’t be felt very often. If you feel thirsty a lot, then you aren’t drinking enough water. If you rarely feel thirsty, then you’re doing a pretty good job.
To find the best water coolers for offices, come on by the water coolers for offices resource page today.