Dehydration
 

Seeing as I suspect half of you aren't looking at the other board at the moment, I figured I may as well double up my post :/

So recently I know I haven't been drinking enough water (we're talking, in the region of half a litre a day, as opposed to the 8-or-so that are recommended).

My question is, what effect will constant dehydration have on my body? And should I be worried? I'm trying to drink more (all the usual tricks, like randomly keeping a bottle with me, etc etc) but I'm not really feeling thirsty a lot of the time hence why I haven't. I also haven't been getting headaches which usually trigger me to drink more water (because usually I get them when I'm dehydrated). But, my skin (especially on my face) is a *lot* drier than usual.

Any advice, thoughts, or even random "drink more water" instructions very much appreciated.

Firstly, isn't it supposed to be 2 litres a day, not 8! =| I thought it was around 8 pints, but 2 litres! ?
Yuss, your skin'll be linked to dehydration, as I'm sure you can guess! You may start to feel faint and dizzy, if you don't increase your fluid intake. It may also make you feel more lethargic, cause a loss of apetite, and therefore constipation.
I'd cut down on any caffeine if I were you, and aim to drink warm water instead. =]
How about carrying a bottle of water with you wherever you go? That may encourage you to drink it, as it'd decrease the load you'd have to carry!
Hope that's helpful in some way!
Good luck with that, =]
Rach xx

That makes a bit more sense :pinch: Oops!

Thank you Rachy McRach :)

Dehydration causes dry skin, as you said, and it also causes your hair to become dry. Lack of water can make you become very lethargic, which you probably knew, and it can also make you feel pretty rubbish and in some causes it can cause depression. You also might feel lightheaded and weak. You could have lack of concentration and cold hands and feet. One of the main symptons of dehydration is a dry mouth and dry lips, and a really bad thurst. So if you're not thursty [I just mis-typed that and wrote 'thrusty' :|] then you might not be at the stage of dehydration yet - so drink more water and avoid it. :P

Try putting a glass of water by your bed when you go to sleep, and try and have a glass of water with every meal. Oo, and apparently it helps if you drink a glass of water half an hour before you eat. Whatever you do, drink water! :P

Severe effects of dehydration include vomiting, seizures and death so that's definately something to avoid!

lovelove. xo

not drinking enough can also be hard on your kidneys and such. and I hear that it may be a factor in getting kidney stones which arent fun.. if your on meds not drinking enough water might change the way they work.. im on lithium and its reccomended to drink alot of water (which I do)

-brian

I never drink enough water and I am constantly feeling the effects of dehydration as a result. Although Paperdreams. has listed most of the consequences of not consuming enough fluid, it's important that you understand the reality of how awful being so dehydrated. I generally drink, on average, about two glasses of juice or water (maybe coffee, even) per day, which isn't enough and, as a result, I suffer incredibly bad headaches, as well as dry skin and bad concentration. I also find that, when I'm going through a period of particularly bad dehydration, I feel light headed and my moods are a lot more likely to change and plummet. That's simply because you're not giving your body enough fluid to function the way it needs to and so it starts restricting the amount of fluid that it gives to the less important functions - i.e. the ones that it doesn't need to survive - and one of those, ironically, is the parts in your brain that allow you to deal with emotions, and think rationally. As a result, when I do start feeling bad because of the dehydration, I'm less able to deal with that as I would when my body has enough fluid and so I'm more prone to self-harm and such during that time. I also, quite embarrassingly, find that, if I'm not drinking enough, I tend to get more bladder infections, which can really hurt sometimes. You may also find that you're more hungry recently, as thirst can often be disguised as hunger.

So, please drink. Make arrangements with yourself during the day when you go out of your way to drink a really huge glass of water - in the mornings especially, and as many times as you can bear throughout the day without finding yourself in the toilet too often! Carrying a bottle of water around with you is a good idea, but make sure that you drink it even if you don't necessarily feel you need to because your body needs that resource. It will make you incredibly ill if you don't drink enough - I forced myself to go for a few days without water a few years ago, and it made me unbelievably ill.

If you don't like the taste of plain water, drink diluting sugarfree juice or flavoured water.

Any fluid will do, even coffee or fizzy juice, but caffeine can dehydrate you a bit so others are better choices.

Drinking hot drinks quickly before they get cold might be an incentive to make sure you finish drinks. Or cold drinks before the ice melts?

Eating your 5-9 a day fruit and veg helps hydrate you as well. Grapes, melons, oranges etc are nice and juicy.

What everyone has said is pretty good advice. Try and drink other things than water, and see if you start drinking more fluids then. You should stay away from caffine products, but juice, tea, and sports drinks are all good too.

AD
First Aid Advisor

Tea is good if you're sick of water!

What about drinking squash? Or those cup a soups?I love squash lollies they are scrummy!
In fact anything that contain's water and no caffiene is a bargainous way of tricking yourself.

If you keep a bottle with you and make a deal with yourself to drink it in a specified time you are more likely to do it then if you have no water with you!
Lastly look at the positives of being fully hydrated and I bet you want to drink more :)
On that note I think we should both toddle off to get water

hugs
xooxx

Everyone has really given all the best advice there.. .just thought I would pop in and give you a poke and say don't forget lollies and haveing weak squash with ice in... that will melt and give you even more fluids.

I was reading a walking guide too the other day and it said the 4 best things to quench ones thirst are; H2O, ginger beer, lemonade [not the carbonated stuff] and energy drinks... as they have the extra things your body needs like some salts and sugars.

Take care lovely,
Chloe x