Dehydration

Dehydration is a Killer Within our Bodies

Jose Santiago

SCI/241

October 07, 2010

Becky Gillaspy

Dehydration is a Killer Within our Bodies

Dehydration occurs when our bodies lose those fluids that our bodies need, which is water for us humans. It is also defined as the process of moisture extraction. The causes of dehydration for humans are being in the exposure to heat for a long period of time. Another cause of dehydration is working out by exercising for a long period of time without the consumption of water or other fluids to keep our bodies hydrated (MedicineNet, Inc, 2010). This paper will discuss why water is essential to health maintenance, what the functions of water in the body are, and what happens to the body when it does not get the water it needs. This paper will then compare and contrast how different electrolytes-sodium, potassium, and chloride-function in the body. Then the paper will discuss what effects might alcohol and caffeine have on hydration levels in the body and what steps may people take to ensure they do not become dehydrated.

Now this paper will discuss why water is essential to health maintenance. First of all, without us consuming water we would die from being dehydrated in a matter of days. Water is essential because it is two thirds of the weight inside all of our bodies. In our brains 95% of it is water. In our blood, water is at 82% of it. Our lungs have water in them as well at 90%. From what the website that this information came from it says that having a two percent drop in the body’s water supply, this will result in us having dehydration signs. With dehydration a person will have sign like not being able to do math that is basic, the loss of short-term memory, and having trouble with print that is small. Without us consuming water, we will not be able to function like a car that runs out of gas. Water is a crucial part of organ and cellular functions within our bodies. It is how...