Dr. Gerhardt says understanding the signs of dehydration and immediately consuming fluids can quickly counteract the early effects of dehydration.
Article Link: The Amount of Water To Drink if You Want To Live to 100 – Parade
You may have heard that water is life-giving, but can it add years to your life?
We know it can help your quality of life and performance while you’re on earth. Science has shown that staying hydrated has many benefits, including boosting mood, improved cognitive performance and headache prevention.
Why? The U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team and Los Angeles Galaxy’s team physician says the answer is pretty simple. “Water molecules are essential to every living cell in our body,” says Dr. Michael Gerhardt, MD, who is also a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute. “Therefore, adequate hydration plays a vital part in cellular metabolism, which then gives a physiological boost to every organ system in our entire body.”
Understanding the signs of dehydration can help you take steps to protect your health and longevity by upping your water intake. “Early signs of dehydration can be more subtle such as a decreased volume of urine or less frequent urination, dry mouth, swollen tongue and fatigue,” says Dr. Gerhardt. “Immediate consumption of fluids can quickly counteract the early effects of dehydration. More serious signs of dehydration include things like confusion, dizziness, heart palpitations, confusion and fainting.” If you notice these more severe signs, Dr. Gerhardt suggests going to the emergency room—and then drinking more water once you’re on the mend.
