Causes of Dehydration

It is important to understand the various dehydration causes that can plague an individual, because this is a condition that can affect one severely. Water is absolutely essential for the normal functioning of the human body, and a lack of water can prove very harmful, and also lead to a number of serious medical conditions. It is said that a human being can survive for weeks without food, but 2 days without water will prove fatal.

Almost 75% of the human body weight is made up of water, and this water exists in the various cells and tissues of the body. Without a proper supply of water these parts will stop functioning normally, thus leading to a complete breakdown of all normal bodily functions. There are many ways in which water leaves the body (sweat, urine and breathing), so there is a very high chance that there will come a point when the water levels in the body are lower than required, and thus lead to the various problems.

Medical experts say that an individual should drink around 8 glasses of water daily to lead a healthy life and for preventing dehydration, but in reality, one should drink as much as possible to avoid various dehydration causes. By drinking a lot of water, an individual feels the need to urinate more often, and this helps clear out a lot of waste material from the body. The advantages of getting rid of these materials results in a stronger immune system, a better sleep cycle, clearer skin and many more beneficial things.

Common Causes of Dehydration

There are many factors that lead a person to feel dehydrated, and most of these can be solved by consuming sufficient amounts of water throughout the day. The various advantages that this task will guarantee, make this a task everyone should indulge in. Here are some common dehydrated causes that can lead to some serious problems.

• Diarrhea: This is one of the most common reasons of dehydration in babies. An upset stomach will inadvertently lead to excessive bowel movements, and will result in liquid stool. This causes a lot of water to escape from the body, and this is something one needs to be aware of. It is said that around 4 million children die worldwide each year due to dehydration because of diarrhea. A person suffering from diarrhea should ensure that he/she consumes enough water during the day, and takes necessary supplements as well.
• Sweating: The body sweats when the temperature outside is warm, and the sweat released through the pores in the skin help to cool the body. Excessive sweating is one of the chronic dehydration causes that is impossible to avoid, especially when one is in an area where the temperatures are very high, or when one has exerted a lot. People with fever and infections also sweat a lot, and it is imperative to consume a lot of water in such situations.
• Diabetes: One of the causes in elderly people is diabetes, and increased blood sugar levels. This excessive sugar gets leaked into the urine, and also drags a lot of water with it. Diabetic people are at a high risk at all times, and should take necessary steps to avoid this condition. Dehydration is one of the first things that doctors look for when trying to diagnose a person with diabetes.
• Vomiting: It goes without saying that if a person is vomiting excessively due to any reason, they must protect themselves against dehydration as well. The fluids that are released from the body are almost entirely made up of water, and this is very risky indeed. This is one of the problems in adults who drink excessively as well, as this causes them to throw up uncontrollably.
• Burns: People who have received multiple burns on their body, also need to be wary. The risk of losing water from the body is higher for such individuals, because the water seeps out of the pores from the skin due to the burns. It is not just burns that cause this problem, as there are many skin infections that also lead to similar issues.
• Pregnancy: Dehydration in pregnancy is easy to understand, because the mother has to support two lives. The child in the womb also requires sufficient amounts of water, and this can only be derived from the mothers body. For this reason, it's further compounded in pregnant women, and they need to drink far more water than what they would normally consume.

All these causes make this a problem that could arise at any time. The only way to combat this, is to drink a lot of water throughout the day. There are various signs of dehydration that can be noted, and they must be acted upon as soon as possible, in order to avoid serious complications.