Water
How Dehydration Affects Us
It is summertime in Broken Arrow, OK. and forecasters are predicting a high of 100 degrees for this Saturday. Many of us will be finding cooler activites to participate in: a day at the lake, taking the kids to the pool, or an early morning or late afternoon walk. Whatever activities you are involved in this summer, it is important to remember that you will be using extra water each day in the form of sweat and if you are exercising, additional breathing.
Sixty percent of the human body is made up of water. Seventy percent of the human brain is water and up to 90% of the human lungs are water. So it is relatively easy to see that water is important to our health. But how much water do we really need? An adult human must replace 2.4 liters each day. A portion of this is reclaimed by the foods that we eat, but some must be obtained through drinking.
There is much debate on how much water a person should drink each day. Many of us have heard the recommendation of (8) 8oz glasses per day. A good general rule is drink a half an ounce of water for every pound you weigh. So if you are 140 lbs, drink 70 oz. The best way to determine your body's hydration level is to observe the color of your urine. After the first time urinating in the morning, your urine should be light straw colored or clear. If your urine is darker during the day, this is a direct indication that you are dehydrated.
For those who suffer with chronic back/neck pain, assess the level of water you are drinking. The human disc, which acts as a shock absorber to the spine, is largely made up of water. When we get chronically dehydrated, the discs stop performing well and nerve pressure and resulting pain is quick to follow. Dehydration also will increase the likelihood of a disc herniation or rupture.
So have an incredible summer by packing plenty of sunscreen AND plenty of water to keep you and your family properly hydrated.
