Drinking water regularly is not an option that one can forgo – your body needs water in order to operate fully; in actual fact it needs water just to survive. Unfortunately too many people do not drink water regularly because they hate the taste and smell of tap water, so walk around at least partially dehydrated most of the time.
Even though the water in the UK is of a consistently high standard according to the Drinking Water Directorate, it does contain some chlorine and fluoride residue, both of which are carcinogenic, which is why many individuals are drinking bottled water these days.
Whether you are drinking tap water, bottled water or water from a water cooler, make sure that you are drinking water regularly in order to avoid getting dehydrated, which can severely impact your good health.
If you do not drink sufficient water you will become dehydrated, and this can lead to you feeling a bit thirsty and having a dry mouth, nose and lips. This is what happens when you are only mildly dehydrated, which occurs when you have lost 3% to 5% of your body weight in water. If you drink water at this stage you will quickly rehydrate and be fine.
If you did not drink water at that stage you will shift into moderate dehydration – when you have lost 6% to 9% of your body weight. In this stage your body will have lost sufficient potassium and sodium to cause an abnormal heartbeat caused by your heart needing to work harder to pump blood and oxygen throughout your body.
During moderate dehydration you will also experience
- A drop in body-temperature, especially in the extremities (hands and feet)
- A rapid, weak pulse of 100bpm at rest
- Blue lips
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Decreased urine output
- Deep, rapid breathing
- Dizziness and feeling light-headed
- Dry mouth, lips and nose
- Dry skin
- Extreme thirst
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Headaches
- Low blood pressure
- Muscles cramping
- Painful kidneys
Once again, drinking water or electrolyte drinks regularly at this stage should sort out any problems and your health should return to normal quite quickly.
If you still so not drink sufficient water you can go into severe dehydration, which is far more serious and requires medical intervention to prevent damage to your liver or kidneys. At this stage you will be exhibiting the following signs:
- A low level of consciousness
- A weak pulse
- Bloody or black stool
- Dry skin that sags slowly into position when pinched up
- Feeling disoriented
- Fits (seizures)
- Inability to keep down fluids
- Inability to pass urine for eight hours
- Inability to produce tears
- Irritability
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Moderate diarrhoea for more than 24 hours
- Severe diarrhoea
- Sunken, dry eyes
- Vomiting or a fever
If you do not get medical help at this stage you could lapse into a coma and death will follow. To avoid any of these symptoms, just drink water regularly throughout the day.
Get bottled water coolers and mains water coolers in London for your home or business.
