Dehydration occurs when the fluids going into the body are less than the fluids leaving it. Whether through sweat, blood, urine, or feces, nearly any activity can result in dehydration. While no one ever means to become dehydrated, sometimes the activities leading to it can be managed more carefully, thus relieving the body and keeping it stronger and healthier.
Inattentiveness
Everyone has busy days, but failing to eat or drink properly can make the day that much longer with a wicked headache and fatigue that stems, not from physical activity, but from the body's lack of fluids. Just because you haven’t spent all morning running laps or climbing a mountain doesn’t mean you don’t need water. Getting caught up in everyday concerns can be just as big a culprit. Additionally, even healthy activities can end badly. Failing to bring enough water on a hike, or finding yourself without a means of drinkable water on a camping trip may bring an unfortunate end to a fun outing.
Exercise
Anyone who exercises is going to sweat more than they normally would during the day. As the seasons get hotter, the sweating during exercise increases too. During cooler weather, it may be easier to keep hydrated, but it’s also easier to forget about it. During the summer, it is essential to keep water intake up. Athletes are especially subject to dehydration, particularly younger ones. It must be instilled from a young age that the more active a person is, the more water or sports drinks they need to be drinking. Even light exercise can cause dehydration if you aren’t paying enough attention. Small, active children especially should be plied with drinks during very active parts of their day.
Illness and Injury
Cuts and burns release blood and pus, which are just as much as fluid as sweat and spit. If an injury goes untreated, it may very well lead to dehydration simply by the slow leaking of fluids that are not easily replaced. Make sure any serious injury is taken care of immediately, and pay attention for the signs of dehydration. Additionally, underlying diseases may be responsible. If diabetes is undetected, it can cause patients to urinate more than normal. Even this creates dehydration, if enough fluids aren’t consumed in replacement.
On the other hand, illnesses with flu-like symptoms can be an absolute and unsurprising cause of dehydration. Diarrhea not only increases the amount of fluid lost, but also electrolytes, while vomiting means you don’t get the minerals and vitamins your body needs. As these vital nutrients decrease, your body has a harder time recovering and fighting. Even a fever may cause dehydration because of the excessive sweating. Although it can be difficult to consume any sort of food or drink during such serious illnesses, it is the only way to prevent dehydration. Children and the elderly are especially at risk in these conditions, and must be watched carefully.
