The Affects of Hydration on Bodily Functions
In this article, BSP Coach, Alex Williams, discusses the importance of hydration for all individuals, the ways to track hydration, and it’s impact on the body. Check out this article , as well as, his follow up which will focus specifically on athlete’s hydration requirements.
With the current public health issue a lot of people are spending more time at home. This likely also means most people are experiencing a decrease in their daily activity. We should not allow this to throw off or affect our ability to hydrate properly, though. If anything, now is a great time to ensure we are properly hydrating.
As you come into BSP, you will likely see water bottles spread all over the gym. This is especially true in the summer months. We all know we need to drink water; but what exactly are we doing, or even preventing, while we consume this water. This blog will aim to highlight how hydration impacts our bodies on a daily basis.
Water naturally exists in the body. In fact, water accounts for an average of 60% of the human body. This water can be either stored in areas such as muscle or fat or it can be circulated as is seen with the bloodstream. Muscles are made up of about 73% water, blood 93%, and fat – including the brain - 10% (that equates to 6% of your brain containing water just from the fat mass)!
We understand now that water exists virtually everywhere in the body, and in pretty staggering amounts, so it makes sense that when normal levels of hydration are not maintained there are negative effects seen throughout the body. Dehydration can be associated with negative effects on muscle strength, endurance, coordination, and muscle clarity. Many immediate effects of dehydration can be fairly noticable. These conditions include: feelings of fatigue, joint pain, and a lack of mental clarity. Additionally, chronic dehydration can lead to: constipation, UTIs, hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure), bladder/colon cancer, kidney stones, and diabetic ketoacidosis.
Water also aids in the thermoregulation of our body. Increasing or maintaining water intake helps keep the body at a sustainable internal temperature. As the body becomes dehydrated your internal body temperature rises. This causes a rapid response of burning energy which can lead to hyperthermia. As little as a 2% decrease in total body water can have a negative impact on aerobic performance and cognitive function.
Rehydrating and maintaining proper hydration can assist in the management and prevention of some of these issues. It is important that while we are thrown off of our usual schedule, we do not forget to stay adamant with our hydration practices. It is something you have to be mindful of, but with enough practice it becomes second-nature.
Be on the look out for future blog entries that detail proper hydration guidelines for everyday life as well as pre- and post-activity guidelines to see how you compare!