Sci/241 Week 5 Assignment: Dehydration In The Human Body

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Sci/241 Week Five Assignment Ruby Warner December 3, 2001 Dehydration Our bodies are “made up of 75% water” (MNT) and without water dehydration begins to happen our bodies. Dehydration happens when our bodies remove more water, than our bodies are consuming. Our bodies need water “for the survival of our cells, blood vessels, and between our cells” (WNT). We have a very sophisticated water system within our bodies. One bodies have many other systems one is our thirst system, this helps to tell us we are thirsty, when we need more water. Our water system knows when we need more…show more content…
A physician will use both physical and mental exams to diagnose dehydration. A patient presenting symptoms such as disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, fever, lack of sweat, and inelastic skin will usually be considered dehydrated. “Potassium, sodium, and chloride are electrolytes-mineral salts that can conduct electricity when they are dissolved in water. They are so intricately related that they are most often discussed together in nutrition textbooks. The reason these nutrients are so closely linked is that electrolytes are always found in pairs; a positively charged molecule like sodium or potassium is always accompanied by a negatively charged molecule like chloride”. (Cure.com.za) “Just as important as the total potassium content of food is to consume sodium and potassium in the proper balance. Too much sodium in the diet can lead to disruption of this balance. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a low-potassium, high-sodium diet plays a major role in the development of cancer and cardiovascular disease (heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, etc.) Conversely, a diet high in potassium and low in sodium is protective against these diseases, and in the case of high blood pressure it can be therapeutic”…show more content…
A 2000 study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center comparing hydration levels indicated mixing water, caffeinated drinks and non-caffeinated drinks resulted in the same amount of hydration for study participants. Those conducting the research decided there was no measurable difference between the various drinks as long as the overall volume stayed the same” (livesstrong, article). “Caffeine and Re-hydration After Exercise Substituting caffeinated drinks for water causes no hydration level difference with physical exercise. In a 2005 study by the University of Connecticut, Human Performance Laboratory, no differences in fluid-electrolyte balance or renal function for adult males showed up for participants. Researchers stated that the belief that caffeine represents a diuretic contributing to accelerated dehydration levels in the body wasn't supported by the study” (livestrong

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