What Happens to Your Body When You Get Dehydrated?

Do You Know the Effects of Dehydration on the Body?

We all know it’s important to drink water. But, do we know why? From an early age, we are encouraged to drink water and stay hydrated. Human bodies are made of up to 75% water, meaning it is essential to replenish the fluids we lose throughout the day. Nobody wants to be dehydrated.

Unfortunately, when we do not replenish our lost fluids, dehydration can occur. Any deficit in normal body water can lead to a variety of problems, and make you feel unwell.

Though seemingly harmless, if left untreated, dehydration can have serious symptoms and side effects. Here are the effects that dehydration can have on your body.

Internal Temperature Control

Sweating is the body’s way of cooling itself down or regulating its temperature. If your body is too dehydrated to even sweat, you could have serious problems. Sweating is the body’s method of removing toxins and stabilising body temperature. If you cannot sweat, your body temperature will continue to rise, which can lead to illnesses such as hyperthermia.

Poor Oral Health

Not drinking enough water means that your glands can struggle to produce saliva. Though this may not sound that bad, no saliva means a dry mouth and this can lead to bacteria build up on your tongue and in your mouth. Ultimately, this can lead to some pretty bad oral hygiene problems such as Halitosis. Halitosis is the build up of bacteria in the mouth that then leads to bad breath. Drinking enough water is just as important as cleaning or flossing your teeth for good oral health.

Dry Skin

When you’re dehydrated, your body has to make decisions. Decisions such are choosing where the high priority areas are that water needs to go to. Unfortunately, skin is a low priority area. If you become dehydrated, your body will pull water from your tissues and your skin to maintain the water concentration in your blood. This can lead to dry, dull and flaky skin. Drinking the right amount of water keeps your skin looking youthful and helps retain its elasticity.

Decreased Brain Function

Due to the fact that humans are mostly made out of water, it’s no surprise that our brain function decreases when we are dehydrated. Fatigue, irritability and low energy are all results of not getting enough water to your brain. Water helps keep your body energised and helps keep headaches at bay. As soon as you become dehydrated, you can start to experience headaches, which obviously lead to reduced motivation and difficulty concentrating. When your body doesn’t have enough water, your brain has to work harder than usual to function properly, which in turn means you tire quicker.

To avoid all of these symptoms and side effects, ensure you stay properly hydrated wherever you are. Take a water bottle with you when you’re out and about, and ensure you drink enough water at work and at home. To make drinking water a little more exciting, why not try sparkling water or green tea. Try and avoid sugary drinks, as they can sometimes have an adverse effect!

Fit Billi products in your work place today, and encourage your staff to drink 7 glasses of water every day. Doing this will mean you’re well on your way to reaching peak workflow and concentration. Why not give us a try and see how the energy and wellbeing in your office improves?