What Is Dehydration & What Causes It?
Dehydration Jessica M. Hescott Lisa Morris May 11th, 2011
What is Dehydration & What causes it?
Water is essential to maintaining a state of good health. Considering the adult body is comprised of nearly 60% water, this explains why such organs as the brain, kidneys, and heart cannot function effectively when lacking enough water supplies. Excessive water loss in the body, or dehydration, then places the body in a position that can become not only uncomfortable but in severe cases life threatening. Upon gaining better understanding of the importance of water in the body, and what occurs when the body reaches a state of dehydration one will be better equipped to ensure proper hydration is regulated. All body tissue contains water to some degree. Water found inside cells is referred to as intracellular fluid while water located outside cells is known as extracellular fluid. Extracellular fluids make up most of the bodies total water weight. One important factor to understand about the water inside the body is that water is an ever moving, working part of our system. Upon the body recognizing the need for extra water in one area the body will move the water, through a process of osmosis, from an area that has a higher concentration. Blood pressure assists the process of osmosis with moving water to different areas of the body. Water plays a role in many body functions. Water assists in dissolving substances needed for proper functioning including, glucose, amino acids, and minerals. Additionally water aids metabolism, and plays a role in joining molecules or breaking them apart. The most important chemical component in the human body is oxygen; the second is
What is Dehydration & What causes it?
Water is essential to maintaining a state of good health. Considering the adult body is comprised of nearly 60% water, this explains why such organs as the brain, kidneys, and heart cannot function effectively when lacking enough water supplies. Excessive water loss in the body, or dehydration, then places the body in a position that can become not only uncomfortable but in severe cases life threatening. Upon gaining better understanding of the importance of water in the body, and what occurs when the body reaches a state of dehydration one will be better equipped to ensure proper hydration is regulated. All body tissue contains water to some degree. Water found inside cells is referred to as intracellular fluid while water located outside cells is known as extracellular fluid. Extracellular fluids make up most of the bodies total water weight. One important factor to understand about the water inside the body is that water is an ever moving, working part of our system. Upon the body recognizing the need for extra water in one area the body will move the water, through a process of osmosis, from an area that has a higher concentration. Blood pressure assists the process of osmosis with moving water to different areas of the body. Water plays a role in many body functions. Water assists in dissolving substances needed for proper functioning including, glucose, amino acids, and minerals. Additionally water aids metabolism, and plays a role in joining molecules or breaking them apart. The most important chemical component in the human body is oxygen; the second is
References: Dehydration http://www.medicinenet.com/dehydration/page2.htm#tocd Dehydration (2000-2007) http://www.annecollins.com/dehydration-causes-symptons-treatment.htm Moritz, A (2009). The dangers of dehydration (part1) http://www.naturalnews.com/023441_water_dehydration_disease.html What is dehydration? What causes dehydration? (2009) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153363.php