Dedicated to Safety, Recreation, and Education
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Dedicated to Safety, Recreation, and Education
|
First appearing in 1994, this article is being reprinted now because I am already seeing the effects of heated air causing dehydration in my incoming patients.
A number of patients coming into the office have been suffering from a variety
of symptoms, all of which can be traced to a lack of water intake. Most were
drinking plenty of fluids: coffee, soda, tea and juice. But none were drinking
enough water.
What kinds of symptoms result from drinking too little water? Most commonly
I see constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nose bleeds, repeated urinary
tract infections, dry and unproductive coughs, constant sneezing, sinus pressure
and headaches.
You might ask how a lack of water intake can cause this wide array of symptoms.
Water is required by every cell in the body as nourishment and to remove wastes.
When water becomes scarce, the body tries to limit the amount it loses through
breathing, mucous production, urination, perspiration and bowel movements.
Several cups of water are lost daily through breathing because the lungs require
humid air to do their work. In the winter when drier air prevails outside and
heating systems (especially forced hot air and wood stoves) dry out the air
inside, even more water is lost. It is estimated that on an average day in the
fall, 3-4 cups of water are lost through breathing. On a cold, dry winter day
as much as 2-3 more cups of water may be lost in this way. The body has to moisturize
the air before it reaches the lungs and does so through the mucous membranes
lining the nasal passages and the bronchi. As available fluid decreases, the
mucous lining becomes drier. This in turn irritates the lungs, causing them
to become more reactive to dust, mold particles, cigarette smoke and other irritants,
and less resistant to viruses and bacteria. The result: dry cough and bronchitis.
The mucous membranes of our lungs and gut are an important component of our
resistance to disease. They provide an effective barrier to bacteria, viruses
and pollutants when intact. But a number of substances (such as aspirin) are
known to harm this barrier. What is less well known is that a lack of water
in the body makes the all important mucous less viscous and can cause constipation,
irritable bowel syndrome and a slowed movement of the bowels contents. These
problems in turn increase ones risk of other long term disease including hemorrhoids
and colon cancer. The mucous lining in the sinus passages is similarly vital
as a defense against disease. When it becomes drier, sinusitis, nose bleeds
and allergic symptoms worsen.
Obviously, we all lose some water through urination and urination is required
for the removal of various toxins from the body. When fluid volume is diminished,
the ability of the body to remove toxins through urination is also diminished.
It is a comon misunderstanding that the more water we drink, the harder it is
on the kidneys. In fact, except for people with some uncommon kidney problems,
the opposite is true. Water soluble toxins cannot be easily removed through
the bowels, especially when a lack of water also causes constipation. These
toxins then must be eliminated in other ways such as through the skin. The increase
in body toxin levels can cause headaches and fatigue. The attempt by the body
to remove excess levels of unwanted chemicals through the skin can cause acne
and will aggravate eczema.
The easy solution to all these problems is to drink more water. Coffee, tea
and soda all contain caffeine which is a known diuretic and will actually accentuate
the symptoms of fluid loss. Fruit juices are more concentrated in sugar than
your body's fluids and so the body will attempt to dilute them in the gut thereby
causing a loss of water from other areas of the body. In the dry, hot air of
winter and very hot days of summer, drink at least 10 glasses of water daily
for optimal health. During the spring and fall, 8 glasses will suffice for most
people, although those with inhalant allergies do best to drink as much water
as possible. Pregnant women need to drink at least 50% more water daily than
they would while not pregnant. People who exercise vigorously should add one
glass of water for each 30 minutes of exercise. Herbal teas and diluted fruit
juices (1/3 fruit juice to 2/3 water) can be substituted for some of the water.
Drink one extra glass of water for each cup of coffee or black tea you have.
Humidifying the air in the winter will help reduce water loss, but be careful
to clean humidifiers daily to discourage bacteria or mold build up.
What type of water is best? Activated carbon or charcoal filtered water is probably
the least expensive way to drink 'safe' water. The carbon filter removes most
of the carcinogens and bacteria commonly found in drinking water. These filters
are often very inexpensive and can be found in almost any department store.
Distilled water has had all the metals (both harmful and helpful) removed. None
of the flourinated and chlorinated hydrocarbons (coming from combining fertilizers
and pesticides with flouride and chlorine) are removed. It is these hydrocarbons
which are linked with the most health problems. Bottled spring waters may be
healthy, but they are not yet required to be analyzed for chemical and bacterial
levels.
Water can be a miracle cure for many common ailments. Try drinking some now
and see if you don't feel better!
Dr. Jennifer Brett
Return to Links