Surprising Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Water

This article is from INH Health Watch.

There is one substance more important for good health than any other; it’s water.
Consider this: Your brain and heart are 73% water. Your lungs about 83%; your skin, 64%; muscles and kidneys, 79%. Even bones are 31% water.

Of course, thirst is the first sign you need more water. But there are other common symptoms you may be suffering from, ones you’d never associate with dehydration.

(Tink's comment: In all my years of backpacking and mountaineering, I learned that the average person gives off about a liter of water a day in the simple act of respiration. So remember, you are causing your body to dehydrate through the simple act of just breathing. The climate, the ambient temperature, altitude, and activity level all have an effect on the magnitude your respiration gives off. Therefore, you need to take in at least this much water, just to compensate for it. This is your 'break even' number.)

Dehydration upsets the entire body’s ability to function. Running low on water is like letting your car run out on gas. It eventually shuts down. It can lead to blood clots, seizures, and chronic health conditions. Even mild dehydration can have adverse effects. So it’s important to identify dehydration early.
Here are seven surprising signs you need more water:

1). Sleepiness. Water allows your brain to focus. When there isn’t enough, it shuts down by inducing sleep.

2). Hunger. Many people confuse hunger with thirst. If you’ve just eaten but still feel hungry, reach for a glass of water instead of a snack. Dehydration can also cause cravings for sweets. The liver uses water to release glycogen. This gives you energy. If you are short on water and your liver can’t release glycogen, your body looks to sweets for energy.

3). Blood pressure spikes. Episodes of high blood pressure can be caused by dehydration. Your blood may be thickening. This causes your pressure to go up. If you get a surprisingly high blood pressure reading, drink a glass or two of water. Wait an hour. Then check your blood pressure again.

4). Headaches. Your brain sits in a protective fluid sack. If this sack becomes dehydrated, the brain bumps against the skull. This causes a headache. People who habitually don’t drink enough water can experience chronic headaches.

5). Constipation. If you are dehydrated, the large intestine extracts water from your food. This causes stools to become compacted.

6). Bad breath. Saliva has antibacterial properties. But dehydration prevents your body from making enough of it. This leads to flourishing mouth bacteria and bad breath.

7). Dry Skin. This could mean your body is robbing your skin of water to keep other body functions operating. It’s a widespread myth you need eight glasses of water a day. You may actually need more. But there’s a catch. A man needs about twelve 8-ounce cups of water per day. A woman needs about nine cups. If they sweat or exercise a lot, they need more.

But a lot of our hydration needs are met by the water in foods we eat… Especially fruits and vegetables. Many are 90% water. This makes it tricky to gauge fluid intake. One great way to track your hydration is with a free iPhone app called Ozmo.

Doctors often advise that you know you’re dehydrated if your urine is dark or bright yellow. But this can be problematic for people taking supplements. Vitamins B and C can cause darker urine even when you drink plenty of water.

The best advice: Be conscious of drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Keep a glass or bottle handy. And eat plenty of water-rich fruits and vegetables. That way you’ll never run short of the world’s most important nutrient.