Why drink water? I'm not thirsty - Page 2

Normally, you can replenish what you've lost through the foods and liquids you consume, even when you're active. But when you eliminate more water and salts than you replace, dehydration results - your system literally dries out. Sometimes dehydration occurs for simple reasons: You don't drink enough because you're sick or busy, or because you lack access to potable water when you're traveling, hiking, or camping.

Other dehydration causes include Diarrhea, vomiting. Severe, acute diarrhea - that is, diarrhea that comes on suddenly and violently - can cause a tremendous loss of water and electrolytes in a short amount of time. If you have vomiting along with diarrhea, you lose even more fluids and minerals. Children and infants are especially at risk.

Worldwide, more than 1.5 million infants and children die of dehydration resulting from diarrhea every year - 300 to 500 of them in the United States. Most of these deaths occur in the first year of life. Preteens and teens who participate in sports may be especially susceptible, both because of their body weight, which is generally lower than that of adults, and because they may not be experienced enough to know the warning signs of dehydration. Certain medications - diuretics, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and some psychiatric drugs - as well as alcohol also can lead to dehydration, generally because they cause you to urinate or perspire more than normal. The following groups of people must pay extra attention to the warning signs of dehydration:

• Burns. Doctors classify burns according to the depth of the injury and the extent of tissue damage. Third-degree burns are the most severe, penetrating all three layers of skin, and often destroying sweat glands, hair follicles, and nerve endings. People with third-degree burns or extensive first- or second-degree burns experience profound fluid loss, and the resulting dehydration can be life-threatening. Anyone can become dehydrated if the loss of fluids outweighs fluid intake. But certain people are at greater risk, including:

• Infants and children. Worldwide, dehydration caused by diarrhea is the leading cause of death in children. Infants and children are especially vulnerable because of their relatively small body weights and high turnover of water and electrolytes. They're also the group most likely to experience diarrhea. In the United States, diarrhea remains one of the most common childhood illnesses.
• Older adults. As you age, you become more susceptible to dehydration for several reasons: Your body's ability to conserve water is reduced, your thirst sense becomes less acute and you're less able to respond to changes in temperature. What's more, older adults, especially people in nursing homes or living alone, tend to eat less than younger people do and sometimes may forget to eat or drink altogether. Disability or neglect also may prevent them from being well nourished. These problems are compounded by chronic illnesses such as diabetes, by hormonal changes associated with menopause, and by the use of certain medications.
• People with chronic illnesses. Having uncontrolled or untreated diabetes puts you at high risk of dehydration. But other chronic illnesses also make you more likely to become dehydrated. These include kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, and adrenal gland disorders. Even having a cold or sore throat makes you more susceptible to dehydration because you're less likely to feel like eating or drinking when you're sick. A fever increases dehydration even more.