Nowadays
more and more people are interested in leading a healthy lifestyle. It is
inevitable since information about how to eat properly and live a healthy life
has become very common in the media lately. One of the slogans to be found on
billboards is that every human should drink at least 2,5 liters water per day.
Even though these days it is such a common topic, and we have so much knowledge
on it as a society, many of us still don’t obey the simple rules of drinking water.
It is obvious that water
is one of the most important components of our body and it is absolutely vital
for our health and well-being. But have you ever thought what it really does to our organisms?
Drinking
water regulates body
temperature and waste disposal in form of urine and sweat. It takes part in
many of the vital processes, such as digestion and oxygen transportation, since
blood, being a fluid, consists in major part of water as well. Water plays crucial
role in the neural system, where it is responsible for protecting
brain from neural shocks and helps neurotransmitters deliver electrical signals
to the brain. Keeping an optimal level of water also prevents headaches, the
so-called feeling of “dry mouth” and it gives the whole body energy. These are
only a few examples on the
long list of why water is so important to us.
If you don’t consume the minimal
recommended daily amounts of water, your body is at risk of dehydration, which
happens when we lose more water through sweating and urination than we consume.
Scientists agree that human can tolerate up to four percent of decrease of
total body water, while anything above five percent qualifies as dehydration.
In the first stages you might experience headaches, nausea, increased tiredness
and dizziness, while prolonged under consumption of water can lead to skin and
muscle diseases and in extreme cases, death.
However, have
you ever thought what the exact number of hours, days or weeks a human being
can survive without consuming water? The average number of time you can survive
without water without risk of injuries or developing dangerous health
conditions is said to be 3 days. However, it actually is quite hard to put a
figure on it since there are many conditions that come into play when it comes
to how much water a person needs in order to survive. The need for water
consumption is bigger for people who spend much time in the sun or live in the
warmer climate, as well as for athletes, while it is relatively smaller for
healthy white-collar workers that spend most of their days in air-conditioned
offices.
A fun fact
is that the current record for most days without water consumptions is held by
Andreas Mihavecz, an 18-year old Austrian who was accidentally left in a police
cell for 18 days. However, it is said that he did manage to get some water into
his system by licking the drops that sat on the prison wall after the process
of condensation.
We can see
that water is truly a game-changer when it comes to life quality. That is the
reason why it is also important to have access to clean drinking water, which
is sadly not the case for millions of people in underdeveloped countries. If
you’re lucky enough to have unlimited access to clean drinking water, remember
to make the most of it and drink the proper daily amounts.
Questions:
1) What are the other (not mentioned in
the text) benefits to staying hydrated?
2) Have you ever experienced mild
dehydration? How did you feel then? Are the symptoms similar to the ones
described in the text?
3) Do you know of any survival tricks
for anyone who finds themselves on an uninhabited island with limited access to
water? Do you happen to know any tips on how to find a drinkable
water source or how to replace water in such circumstances in order to stay
hydrated?
Źródła:
https://www.quora.com/How-long-can-a-human-live-without-water
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration
Comments
Probably I could go on and list more arguments which are just an implication of what you included in your article.
I don't recall experiencing any symptoms of mild dehydration, maybe a headache, but nothing more.
I don't unsettled lands very often, so I am not familiar with any mind blowing tricks, but when I do, I prepare myself and take enough water.
I don't think I have ever experienced dehydration.
If you're stuck on desert island then you need to adapt to your environment. I remember this movie where the main character was stuck on an empty island in the middle of nowhere and he had to drink coconut milk to survive.
2) I try to drink a lot of water, so I never had such symptoms. However, my brother had a fever for a long time and did not provide enough fluids. Because of that he had dizziness, and then fainted. Fortunately, he quickly gets a drip with physiological saline and electrolytes.
3) I do not know any special tricks, but it seems to me that a good idea is to find fruits that contain a lot of water. If there are none, it remains to pray for rain.
Well, I'm not sure if I have ever experienced it. I don't think I fully understand the term 'mild dehydration', but if we're talking about effects of not drinking water for a couple of hours then I didn't notice any symptoms.
No, unfortunately, I don't know any survival tricks.
No, fortunately, I've never feel bad because of serious dehydration. If I feel like I need to drink water I just drink it.
As I know, there are plants and fruits which consists water so you can use them instead of pure water. Though it won't be enough but at least you'll stay alive. One more thing is to try to avoid the sun and stay more in the shade.
2) As we spoke before, it is especially important to stay hydrated when sick, as our body loses a lot of water.
3) And if it rains, you still need a container to keep the water for at least a couple of days. In the movies they often use big leaves.
Your situation of not being able to move seems like a dehydration to me.
I agree that a lot of fruits contain much water - so you don't need to actually drink 3 l of mineral water daily - the water in other products count as well!
2.Honestly, I never experienced dehydration because I like to drink, especially cold water. I can drink 3 l per day :P
3.Certainly, when we sweat, we lose water, so it is worth limiting the movement.
As a last resort, you can always drink your own urine, which is very valuable.
First thing that comes to my mind is Bear Grills and his idea of drinking own urine through drenched cloth. Obviously this is kind of last resort option, however apart from that I know that usually one can find some plants which accumulate their water reserves inside a stalk.
We need to drink enough to fill all needs of our organism. When last time I have visited dentist she has told me that I drink small amount of water and I need drink more because my teeth didn't washed enough and I have some problems in this reason.
Hm, I guess I would try to find some water in forrest or get it from leaves, but I dont know how to properly check whether its drinkable or not. So i think i dont have that much chances to survive on some island. I think, the best way is to just see if some animals drink this water, and then try it yourself
Hmmm, I dont't remember that I have been dehydrated because usually I drink about 2 liters per day. I'd rather to drink Muszynianka (my favorite water) than any other drink where is a lot of sugar.
In my opinion it's hard to make water drinkable without any equipment. I have made a small google research and I found that tips: https://www.wikihow.com/Turn-Salt-Water-Into-Drinking-Water/ but of course, you should have some vessels or something like that.
I think the most important benefits was mentioned in the text, but i’ve heard about good aspects of drinking hot water with slice of lemon everyday in the morning. It has a detoxifying effect and works well on our metabolism.
2) Have you ever experienced mild dehydration? How did you feel then? Are the symptoms similar to the ones described in the text?
To be honest i don’t think i’ve never experienced even mild dehydration. I always remember to drink(not only water) in hot days or when i have digestive problems, so i hope i won’t experience it in the future.
3) Do you know of any survival tricks for anyone who finds themselves on an uninhabited island with limited access to water? Do you happen to know any tips on how to find a drinkable water source or how to replace water in such circumstances in order to stay hydrated?
I’ve heard about the Chinese man being trapped after earthquake drinking his own orine just to stay hydarated, but that was really desperate move and i’ve read that it’t not the best idea, especially when you are already dehydrated
In my case it is head ache when I don’t drink enough water is the biggest problem. I also think that drinking a lot of water helps our body to detoxicate.
Have you ever experienced mild dehydration? How did you feel then? Are the symptoms similar to the ones described in the text?
I think yes, some times ago I had really bad head aches. I try to resolve why by my own, but I didn’t. I went to doctor and tell about my daily live. He made the diagnose and told me that I should drink more water. I took the advice and the head ache was gone. Now I give more attention to drink a lot of water.
Do you know of any survival tricks for anyone who finds themselves on an uninhabited island with limited access to water? Do you happen to know any tips on how to find a drinkable water source or how to replace water in such circumstances in order to stay hydrated?
From the movies I watched, people always get water from rain. Maybe water from the puddle is not salted, but better to boil it first.
2. No I haven’t.
3. I have seen a video of a bushman that had an interesting trick for getting to the water source. It involved local monkey and a salt. Bushman would put a salt into a hole that would allow monkey to reach for it but once it grab onto it the animal wouldn’t be able to get it out with its hand wrapped around it. If all went well monkey wouldn’t let go of the salt and would be easy to catch. Bushman than would tie monkey to a rope give it some salt and wait some time. Normally monkey wouldn’t lead anyone to its water source. However thanks to the thirst caused by the salt it wouldn’t hesitate.
2. Yes, when I still did not understand what water means in human life, I experienced dehydration. Now I maintain a balance in the body and drink not 2 or 3 liters a day, I drink as much as my body requires. Symptoms that I had: dry skin and lips, lack of strength, constant nausea and malaise, poor digestion of food, and sometimes severe dizziness.
3. First, of course, I would go looking for a fresh pond. But there are other options such as tree juice, or fruit juice, such as coconut milk. And the best way to wait for rain and collect water as much as it will turn out.
By the time I got there I was feeling dizzy enough
that I had trouble keeping the bike upright. Your hand eye coordination is out of Wack until you faint.
I got a huge water and chugged it down and sat for awhile until I recovered.
It is not painful, but you do start to panic.
There are some ways ex: plastic bag that you have to put on some plants - water will liquefact on sides.
Worst i had was a really sore throat and dry lips nothing more dangerous and unpleasant.
As for survival tips :
Easiest one is to collect rainfall, in tropical countries/forests lots of plants collect drinkable water in their leaves and cavities. obviously boiled water and filtered through sand water. You could also dig a hole in lookout for drinkable filtered by ground water (not recommended in all areas).
The only one i’m Thinking about is for the skin but I don’t know other
2) Have you ever experienced mild dehydration? How did you feel then? Are the symptoms similar to the ones described in the text?
Yes when I forgot my bottle of water and outside was about 36 degrees and I didn’t have money for water . I’ve had a big headache and I was weak.
3) Do you know of any survival tricks for anyone who finds themselves on an uninhabited island with limited access to water? Do you happen to know any tips on how to find a drinkable water source or how to replace water in such circumstances in order to stay hydrated?
Once i’ve Found a survival solution , it is to make a hole in the ground and put a can on the bottom and then cover the hole with plastic and secure it and add a pebble on the plastic and then the humidity from the ground will turn into drops of water on the plastic and then go down to the can.
Yes. I felt like I'm sick, something was not right. I couldn't even think properly. The headache was big, and it wasn't so comfortable
I do not know any of those techniques.
Fortunately not, not yet :/ I try to change my habits and drink more because now I drink ~1L on average per day. I hope I will manage to change my behaviour before having severe dehydration.
I don't remember at the moment much, but being in such situation will recall all the videos I watched about staying in the wild alone - I hope at least :D
I think that staying hydrated helps your overall well-being to improve each day and as a result, you may feel more active and creative.
2) Have you ever experienced mild dehydration? How did you feel then? Are the symptoms similar to the ones described in the text?
Yes, the symptoms were definitely similar to the ones described in the text. It was about 10 years ago during a very hot day in Africa, when I suddenly collapsed and felt a huge need for a water.
3) Do you know of any survival tricks for anyone who finds themselves on an uninhabited island with limited access to water? Do you happen to know any tips on how to find a drinkable water source or how to replace water in such circumstances in order to stay hydrated?
Unfortunately I don't know such tricks or tips and I hope I'll never need to know or be in described situation.
help with digestive problems. Some people might not realise that good digestion relies not only on good fibre intake, but also on water. Being dehydrated can leave us feeling constipated and can exacerbate any digestive tract illnesses, such as IBS. So simply by ensuring you drink enough water each day could help to keep your digestive system as healthy as possible.
give you youthful, brighter skin. Did you know that one third of your skin is made up of water? So it’s not surprising that one of the best things you can do for your skin is to keep hydrated. Drinking a healthy amount of water will help to keep your skin cells plump, looking brighter, and could help banish any blemishes, and improve skin tone and clarity. And, let’s be honest, water is a good deal cheaper than those expensive anti-ageing creams many of us slather on every day!
mild dehydration, no , but i suppose to search more about it.