Exercise and proper nutrition can help you to shed off those extra pounds, but avoiding dehydration is perhaps the most essential factor. You might be thinking that you can just drink as much water as you need to feel fresh, but this could actually be damaging your overall wellness. Let’s have a quick look at how much weight you can lose from dehydration and what precautions you should be taking.
The Advantages Of Dehydration
The first thing you should know about dehydration is that it’s actually a fairly common condition. It’s estimated that around 20-30% of the general population suffer from some degree of dehydration, whether or not they know it. What’s more is that it’s usually not an immediate life-threatening situation and, as long as you catch it early, there are usually no problems associated with it. If you do happen to drink too much water (particularly if this is accompanied by exercise) and you are found to be dehydrated upon medical examination, your health care provider will usually be able to tell you what’s causing your condition and give you the appropriate treatment.
The most obvious advantage of dehydration is that it has the potential to shed off some weight. If you are indeed dehydrated, then it stands to reason that you are carrying around more weight than you need to. This is why you should try and drink sufficient amounts of water throughout the day; it is easier for your body to manage water than it is to manage fat. If you want to shed off some weight, then dehydration is certainly a viable option for you. It’s important to remember, however, that this is a long-term strategy. You should seriously consider whether or not you want to lose weight before you start worrying about dehydration because, in the long term, it can actually be more harmful than helpful. This is why you should try and drink only when you are actually thirsty and avoid drinking too much in one go. It’s also advisable to drink more frequently in the morning than at night because your body temperature is usually lower at night and it’s easier for your body to regulate water intake at this time. You should be aware that if you drink sufficient amounts of water, you might find that you are actually becoming thirstier; it’s all about how your body deals with water. Your health care provider can tell you what’s normal for you and, if you’re not sure, then he or she can also help you establish a drinking schedule. You usually only need to worry about dehydration if you have a chronic condition that prevents you from regulating your body temperature properly. In this situation, dehydration is often associated with an excessive feeling of thirst and damage to your internal organs. In these cases, your health care provider will usually recommend that you avoid dehydration as much as possible because of the associated risks.
The Negative Aspects Of Dehydration
Now, let’s have a quick look at the negative aspects of dehydration. As we’ve established, dehydration is fairly common and it’s usually not an immediate life-threatening situation. This means that it’s generally not such a bad condition and it’s usually not something that requires immediate medical attention. However, there are a number of situations where dehydration can become problematic, particularly if it’s chronic. Let’s have a quick look at what these are.
- Chronic Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Problems
- Joint Pain
- Skin Rashes
- Serious Mental Health Issues
Any one of these problems can be caused by dehydration and they can all become serious if they’re left unchecked. Let’s take a closer look at each one of these problems and how they can be prevented or treated. It is also important to remember that, although mild dehydration might not seem like a problem, it’s still dangerous in the long term. Your brain, for example, is about 70% water and proper hydration is essential for maintaining a healthy state. If you want to reduce the risk of disease, then you need to maintain a healthy state of hydration. This is why you should try and drink sufficient amounts of water throughout the day and avoid dehydration as much as possible.
Chronic Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Chronic UTI is often the result of a bacterial infection that affects the urinary tract. This type of infection can be caused by bacteria that are commonly found in water or soil, which is why it’s sometimes called ‘external’ UTI. Bacteria can also enter your urinary tract from the food that you eat, so it can become known as ‘internal’ UTI. This is the more common form of the disease and it’s usually treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics will kill the bacteria that are causing the infection and, as long as you continue to take them, you will be cured. The important thing to keep in mind is that antibiotics aren’t necessarily suitable for everyone and, in some cases, they might even be detrimental to your health. If you’re taking them for a bacterial infection, then it’s better to avoid using them if you have a history of sensitive organs or allergies. Your doctor can advise you of what’s best to do in each case and they will usually recommend a course of action; in the meantime, try and drink sufficient amounts of water.
Chronic and recurrent UTI are two important terms that you need to know and understand. If you are indeed suffering from this condition and have had more than one episode, then you are probably suffering from chronic UTI. This means that the condition is ongoing and it’s brought on by an infection that is either never fully cleared up or that comes back after being treated successfully. In some cases, it can be a combination of the two. This is why it’s important to re-visit your health care provider if you are indeed experiencing recurrent UTI symptoms because they might have different recommendations for you. Your health care provider might even decide that there’s nothing more that can be done and suggest that you try alternative remedies. Sometimes, when a condition is chronic, it becomes quite the struggle to maintain good health. Your doctor might even consider prescribing you with a urinary antispasmodic to help relax your muscles and stop the contractions that are causing you discomfort. In some cases, anti-spasmodics can also be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and this is why, in these situations, it can be a bit of a ‘piss-off’ drug; the name is indeed appropriate because antispasmodics often end up being used to treat bladder problems. In any case, if you want to avoid having recurrent UTI, then you need to maintain a healthy state of hydration and you should also drink sufficient amounts of water throughout the day; at least eight glasses. Your doctor might also decide to prescribe you with an antidiabetic agent to help regulate your blood sugar. Just remember that all these drugs are potentially toxic and, if you take them for long periods of time, then you’re increasing the risk of developing adverse reactions. Your doctor might also decide to prescribe you with a beta blocker or a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) to treat your symptoms. Beta blockers are generally used to treat high blood pressure and they can also be habit-forming; TCAs are often used to treat depression, anxiety, and panic disorders, but they can also have paradoxical effects and, in some cases, they might even cause insomnia and weight gain. If you are indeed taking these medications and you notice that you’re becoming dehydrated, then it might be a good idea to cut back or stop taking them, as this could potentially be more harmful than beneficial. If you want to avoid dehydration, then it’s better to drink sufficient amounts of water each day than to rely on medications to do so for you. Medications can also have side effects that you might not want to experience.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Problems
Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are often caused by a poor digestion system and this usually results in a large number of undigested food particles being passed through the digestive system. In some cases, this can cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and in other cases, it can even lead to ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. There are various ways to improve the function of the digestive system and proper hydration is one of them. If you think that dehydration is indeed causing your digestive system problems, then you should try and drink sufficient amounts of water each day to maintain a healthy state. You might also want to consider adopting a healthy diet and avoiding foods with a large amount of sugar in them. Furthermore, vegetables and fruits are vital for good digestion and they also act as a natural antiflatulent; this means that they have the ability to reduce the gas caused by excessive amounts of food in the stomach. Your digestive system will thank you for caring for it properly and, in turn, you’ll enjoy many years of healthy eating. You might also want to try and walk or exercise each day because this can also improve digestion and, as a result, improve the overall health of your body.