Five Quick Vital Points on Hydration (5 of 5)

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5. Chronic dehydration makes us more susceptible to all kinds of diseases and pains

In our previous posts we discussed some of the symptoms that the body may experience when dehydrated.

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Yet, when we are continually dehydrated our bodies begin to ration water usage and the affect on particular systems that get the “short end” is seen in different ways from person to person. This is where it gets deeper because there are many illnesses and diseases that we can experience that rarely get medically connected to chronic dehydration. So we look right past it and go to drugs that introduce a whole new set of issues. The following illnesses stand out to me but there are many more.

Parkinson's disease and Alzenheimer's disease.

The blood vessels have to contract to stay full. If they didn't contract, the empty parts may become filled with gas pockets which would be extremely dangerous. Yet, dehydration could cause this natural, defensive reaction to backfire on us. If this constant contracting is done in the blood vessels in the brain it could lead to bleedings and plaques, which are at the base of most neurological disorders.

Back and joint pain

 The cartilage in your body is five times slicker than ice and is composed of about 80% water. When we become dehydrated the cartilage surface that usually glides over one another picks up more frictional force. This causes more damage to cartilage cells which depend on water to transport the nutrients required for maintenance and repair (Remember that there are no blood vessels in cartilage). So the lack of sufficient water can not only increase the frictional abrasive damage to the cartilage (which we feel as joint pain), but it also can delay its repair. This will eventually lead to arthritis. Following this same mindset, the gel-filled discs in our back are also more prone to herniate and degenerate when dehydrated.  

Allergies and Asthma

In times of mild dehydration the body uses Histamine to redistribute water throughout the body giving preference to the most vital organs first. Yet this same Histamine is also used to controls bronchial muscle contractions and also, depending on the individual’s sensitivity, the body reacts with an allergic reaction when it senses a higher level of Histamines. So even though the Histamine was produced in an attempt to conserve water, it could end in constricting the bronchial muscles and causing an allergic reaction.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, many underestimate the amount of water that we use daily, even in simply breathing. We all have seen how when we breathe on a glass it fogs it up. This is because of the water vapor we release from the lungs. Now consider that we all continually release this water vapor...all day and all night.

Some recommendations would say getting 6 – 8 glasses per day. Others say divide your weight by half and drink that many fluid ounces per day. Another key is getting clean water. Don’t assume that bottled water is always better. There are many clean and filtered water products, but I am not writing this to recommend any (Please feel free to leave links in the comments section below), but I just wanted to heighten awareness of how vital it is to live a hydrated lifestyle and to recognize signs of dehydration. Yet, even in your best health efforts remember this:

“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” – John 4:13-14

I pray the best of consistent health on all readers.

J.E.


The importance of Adequate Water, Don Colbert, MD.
Your body’s Many Cries For Water, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj
Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty!, Dr F. Batmanghelidj
Prevent Asthma and Allergy Symptoms Naturally, Dr. David Jockers through www.naturalnews.com
Dangers of Chronic Dehydration,  Albert Grazia, M.S., N.D.
Stop Parkin' and Start Livin': Reversing the Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, John Coleman ND