Surprisingly, most of us are dehydrated much of the time. Up to 75 percent of Americans may be dehydrated at any given moment, according to research by the Clinical Nutrition division of New York Hospital.
Because our bodies are mostly water, including 85 percent in our brains and 75 percent of our muscles, we need anywhere from six to 10 cups of water per day for optimal functioning. Think of it like a car needing oil or gas. Water makes humans run.
Not every liquid will help you stay hydrated. Coffee, alcohol, caffeine-laden beverages and even some teas act as diuretics, which contributes to dehydration. If you chronically go without water, it can contribute to fatigue, high blood pressure, kidney problems and headaches, among other issues.
Symptoms of Dehydration
Dehydration symptoms are easy to spot. First, you’ll feel thirst, usually accompanied by a dry mouth. Second, you’ll start to feel tired, even sleepy. Third, the skin turns dry and you’ll probably get a low-level headache. Fourth, on your bathroom breaks, you’ll notice less urine being produced and perhaps have a constipation issue.
Watch for the other symptoms of dehydration, which include few tears when crying, and in some cases, a light-headed feeling. Usually, those are the mild signs that you should have a few glasses of water to bring you back to normal hydration. But if you’re working outdoors, spending a lot of time playing in the sun or participating in vigorous athletic activity, you may see some of the more severe signs manifesting themselves.