Understand the relationship between dehydration and neurological health with Meri Sehat. Stay hydrated for optimal well-being.

Dehydration And Neurological Health – How Are They Related?

Water is essential to sustaining life, not only on Earth but also in places beyond our planet. For humans, the water molecule plays a role in a multitude of bodily functions. And just like not eating can leave you starving, depriving your body of water can also be quite detrimental to health.

Introduction

To count a few benefits, water:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/aids">Aids </a>in digestion </li>
	<li>Helps flush out toxins and waste</li>
	<li>Delivers oxygen</li>
	<li>Regulates body temperature</li>
	<li>Acts as a lubricant for the joints</li>
	<li>Keeps the skin healthy</li>
	<li>Serves as a shock absorber for the spinal cord, brain, and fetus 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

It ensures that each system of your body is functioning. Thus, drinking water daily is important for our daily functioning. That doesn&rsquo;t sound so difficult. Then why is it that it&rsquo;s 2023 and people are Googling ways to stay hydrated? Simple ways, smart ways, genius hacks &ndash; you name it. Apparently, drinking those &ldquo;eight&rdquo; glasses of water each day is quite a challenge for some humans<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>.

A reduced intake of water, coupled with various other factors can cause dehydration in people. This can have a wide variety of effects, ranging from mood changes to low blood pressure. 
&nbsp;

While climate, diet, and activity levels remain major causative factors, the following people are especially vulnerable to losing body water quickly: 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Babies And Infants - Even a tiny degree of fluid loss significantly impacts their health.</li>
	<li>Athletes - Prolonged sweating means they lose water and minerals quicker than they can replace them.</li>
	<li>Older People - The elderly do not pay attention or are unaware (as in <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/dementia">dementia </a>or <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/stroke">stroke</a>) that they are thirsty and become dehydrated.</li>
	<li>Individuals - Individuals with certain health conditions, such as fever, persistent <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/diarrhea">diarrhea </a>and vomiting, kidney failure, and <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/diabetes-type-1-and-2">diabetes</a>.</li>
	<li>Individuals - Individualstaking certain medicines, like diuretics. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Understanding the link between Dehydration and Neurological Health

Did you know your kidneys and muscles are 79% water? Or that the water ratio for your brain (and your heart) is 73%? Even your skin constitutes 64% water, while the water content of your bones is 31%<a href="#accordion">[5]</a>. Therefore, it is no surprise that a lack of water affects multiple normal bodily functions.

Several studies suggest that dehydration increases the risk of anxiety. A 2018 study, in particular, showed that individuals who drank more water were less likely to be anxious or depressed than those who did not. Dehydration affects your brain&rsquo;s energy, increasing stress hormone levels and decreasing serotonin production. As a result, people who consume more water throughout the day feel happy and content<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. 
&nbsp;

Dehydration is also connected to muddled thinking and difficulty concentrating. According to one study, there was a notable decline in the participants&#39; executive functioning when they were dehydrated<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>.

It may also cause physical discomfort if the blood flow is impacted. Both lack of movement and too much movement can prevent new blood from returning, causing regional dehydration where specific body parts, such as the low back, end up with less fluid in tissues. As a result, you will experience increased aches and cramps. 
&nbsp;
<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>

Did you know drinking water reduces inflammation and helps avoid triggering pain receptors in your body? On the other hand, dehydration causes a drop in blood pressure, leading to numbness in the arms and involuntary muscle spasms<a href="#accordion">[6]</a>. 
&nbsp;

Let&rsquo;s see how dehydration and your nervous system are connected:

<ul>
	<li>The extracellular matrix component of the connective tissue in your body, which enables structural support and cell-to-cell communication, is a fluid medium. Dehydration means there&rsquo;s less fluid. In fact, there&rsquo;s increased stiffness and friction between tissues, and the pain levels perceived by your brain are worse due to dehydration. &nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A study in 2016 reported that hypohydration (under hydration) increased pain sensitivity. Individuals were tested with an ice bath when they were hydrated versus dehydrated. Although the water temperature was the same both times, the pain level reportedly shot up when they were hypohydrated<a href="#accordion">[7]</a>. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The spine encasing the spinal cord is a column made up of cartilage, discs, and vertebrae. The cartilage cushioning your spinal discs and vertebrae is 80% water. Even the vertebrae and spinal discs contain fluids. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The spinal discs are in a constant process of wear and tear. When you&rsquo;re dehydrated, your body can&rsquo;t replace the fluid loss of your spine because of movement throughout the day. Your discs start to degenerate. They become smaller and can no longer cushion or sustain the connection between vertebrae and cartilage. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>With the protection gone and your discs continuing to compress and collapse, it puts pressure on the nerves in your spine. The pain that ensues is not restricted to the back. It radiates up to the neck and down the legs as well. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The nerves feeding your skin end up dull, dry, and cracked, and are unable to protect you against infections. Moreover, once the tendons and the ligaments dry out, particularly in your feet, injuries occur more frequently and take longer to heal. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The fluid loss causes the blood volume to drop, making it harder for your heart to pump nutrients and oxygen through the bloodstream to your muscles, brain, and skin. Consequently, there&rsquo;s a drop in your energy and motivation to get up and get going. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>There&rsquo;s no place in your body to store water. If you&rsquo;re not replacing it, your body will turn to cells in your body (including the ones in your brain) to sustain its functions. Headaches and migraines occur more frequently as the brain starts losing its water content, shrinking, and straining nerves. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Conclusion

Your nerves are dependent on water to transmit signals. For starters, you need your brain to focus clearly and think faster, and it&rsquo;ll not happen on a low reserve of water. And while dehydration is not fatal in most cases, it will have an impact on how your body functions on a day-to-day basis.

You are constantly losing water through body functions. Therefore, you must hydrate at the same rate. 
&nbsp;

Key Takeaways

<ul>
	<li>Dehydration is characterized by extreme thirst and dry lips, but it can also lead to problems like fatigue, headaches and migraines, brain fog, muscle aches, and cramping.</li>
	<li>It increases the risk of neuropathies (e.g., diabetic neuropathy) because the water and chemical balance is disrupted.</li>
	<li>Your body can&rsquo;t flush toxins, like histamine, leading to inflammation of your nerves, joints, and muscles.</li>
	<li>You get confused easily; poor short-term memory and mood swings are common.</li>
	<li>Sitting still for too long can upset blood circulation. Your nerves feel the pinch when the muscles don&rsquo;t receive the necessary nutrients and oxygen.</li>
	<li>The &ldquo;pins and needles&rdquo; sensation in toes and fingers also occurs because of dehydration. </li>
	<li>If the spinal discs are dehydrated and lose their gelatinous material, they will be unable to hold your body weight. This may lead to herniated or bulging discs, spinal or back pain, and immobility.</li>
	<li>If you&rsquo;re suffering from neuropathy, hydration is a big step to reduce inflammation, remove toxins, and ensure proper blood flow. </li>
	<li>Rule of the thumb is not to wait until you&rsquo;re thirsty to drink your glass of water.</li>
	<li>Make sure to drink plenty of water or sports drinks when working out and during a heatwave. Eat hydrating foods and avoid caffeine and alcohol. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

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