Are you dehydrated.. here is a simple observance and a quick test
Especially important for children and the elderly
We lose water from our bodies every day from sweating, breathing, elimination and other benign ways. The need to replace the lost fluid by drinking fluids and/or eating foods that contain water. If we lose too much water or don’t drink and eat enough, we can get dehydrated.
Children
They just don't stop and they of course sweat, but being too young to realize the need for fluids, they can hit the wall.
As we Age
As we age we lose our thirst sensation and this continues to weaken as we gain in years. It of course leads to dehydration... and in fact many times what is perceived as vertigo in the elderly is simply dehydration. And let's not forget the plethora of synthetic medications most elderly ingest, many of these can act as a diuretic as well.
Travel
Yes travel can even dehydrate us at a faster rate as your body may be going through some changing environments that induce it. Air Travel with increased pressure, long sojourns exploring new places the excitement takes you away from normal routines including drinking water. When we fly, the air inside the cabin is at a much lower lower humidity than normal. Inside an airplane, it can drop substantially and during longer flights, cabin humidity dips even lower over time.
Travelers tend to drink less water which of course leads to dehydration, especially on flights lasting more than four hours, (Travelers should hydrate before, during, and after a flight to maintain hydration). Drinking Alcohol and Caffeine tends to be preferred for flyers and both caffeine and alcohol have a diuretic effect that can hasten the on-set of dehydration.
Side Note: Dehydration worsens your Jet Lag. Jet lag is often unavoidable, especially during long-distance travel, but staying properly hydrated is the best way to help avoid the nausea, lethargy, sluggishness, headache and fogginess associated with jet lag.
Quick Tests
One of the better indicators of dehydration is the color of your urine.... with light colored urine signifying good fluid levels. When you see darker yellow, that is a signal to drink more water! A heavier smell is also a good indicator... with brown colored and pungent smelling urine being a warning that you are near death! So pay attention folks.
Another quick test that is far faster and easier than urination checks is pressing the tip of a finger. Yes your finger tip color when pressed will turn white as the blood is pressed out of the capillaries. If you are not dehydrated the color will return in 2 or 3 seconds (with adults taking a second more usually). Other tests include pinching your skin to see how fast it goes back to normal, but in the elderly this is not the best test... the nail press or urine check is far more reliable.
Go get some water now... you have been online too long!
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Image Credit: allhealthpost
Yeah, I completely agree with you @kyusho. Drinking water helps to maintain the balance of body fluids as well as temperature. Our body is composed of about 70% water.
Great post.
Thanks for sharing this post. ☺
You mean it isn't 70% Coke?
Although observing colours of urine is one of the best ways to test dehydration but however, to me, it seems horrible. Let me tell you an incidence. Recently, I was peeing the brown colour urine. I had no idea what was going on? Then I searched online what does it mean. Well, it turns out to be a symptom of internal bleeding. I was really f***** up at that time and I had no idea what to do. The actual fact is I was normal ☻ I just drunk a couple of banana and mango shake glasses. That moment was very frightening to me. By the way, I love your content @kyusho, let me follow you for more such posts. See you Soon ♥
Many soldiers in hot climates like the US SOuth, experience the same discoloration... but induced from dehydration or foolishly drinking more other stuff than water. Then they go out in the sweltering heat and train all day drying themselves out even more.
BTW Carbonated Liquids even Water dehydrate you.
wow thanks man
Thanks for sharing the tips....I know the urine one....but next time when I feel like dehydrated I will try the finger tip one😊😊.
I usually keep my self away from dehydration by drinking lemon juices and energy powders.
For some it is a challenge, it should be a parental instructional and life lesson for children.
Yes it should be! Because they(children) are cute and cannot speak😁😁
Good article, I got a lot of information from your post. Thank you.
If it helps someone it is good indeed.
Well due to this hot weather your advice is much appreciated indeed !
i new the urine thing but not the finger one, although i have done it i had no clue that i can understand if i need more water!