Dehydration »
What is dehydration?
The majority of the body is made up of water, with up to 75% of the body's
weight due to H2O. Most of the water is found within the cells of the body
(intracellular space). The rest is found in what is referred to as the extracellular space,
which consists of the blood vessels (intravascular space) and the spaces between
cells (interstitial space).
Total body water = intracellular space + intravascular space + interstitial
space
Dehydration occurs when the amount of water leaving the body is greater than
the amount being taken in. The body is very dynamic and always changing. This is
especially true with water in the body. We lose water routinely when:
- we breathe and humidified air leaves the body;
- we sweat to cool the body; and
- we
urinate or have a bowel movement to rid the body of waste products.
In a normal
day, a person has to drink a significant amount...
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