Do you drink enough water every day? According to recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men should drink 3.7 litres (roughly 15 cups) per day, while women should drink 2.7 litres (roughly 11 cups) of water per day.
Obviously, your water consumption is bound to change depending on your lifestyle. For instance, if you exercise a lot, you may need to drink more water each day.
Either way, insufficient daily water intake exposes you to a number of negative side effects.
Headaches
Do you suffer from frequent headaches? This annoying health issue may simply be caused by not drinking enough water.
According to one study, drinking water is often a good way to cure a headache. Researchers even recommend that those who suffer from migraines review their water intake before opting for other, more invasive solutions, such as taking medication.
If your headaches persist, be sure to see a doctor.
Chapped lips
Chapped lips aren’t just caused by the cold, wind, or sun. Dehydration is, in fact, one of the leading causes. In addition to applying a protective balm regularly, be sure to drink plenty of water.
Low blood pressure
It’s true that certain heart conditions can cause low blood pressure, but so can dehydration. Under certain circumstances, drinking enough water could bring your blood pressure back to normal.
If you have low blood pressure, be sure to avoid consuming alcohol as it is known to cause hypotension.
Sore muscles
Water doesn’t just hydrate your body. It also gives your muscles the energy they need to function properly. When you don’t drink enough water, your muscles weaken and are more likely to be sore.
Heat stroke
When you’re hot, your body sweats more to cool you down. This causes your body to get dehydrated faster, increasing the risk of heat stroke. Symptoms include nausea, fever, and fainting.
When the weather’s hot, you need to increase your water consumption and make sure you don’t stay out in the heat for too long.
Dizziness
When you don’t drink enough water, your brain doesn’t get adequate oxygen, which can lead to dizziness.
If your vertigo persists, even after you are sufficiently hydrated, see a doctor. There may be another reason for your dizziness.
Irritability
Lack of sleep, stress, and hunger aren’t the only causes of irritability. People who don’t drink enough water tend to be irritable. This phenomenon is even more common in winter, when people are less likely to drink enough water.
Fatigue
Fatigue isn’t just caused by a lack of sleep. Not drinking enough water is another significant factor.
When you’re dehydrated, your body has to work harder to circulate your blood, which is largely made up of water. As a result, you get tired faster.
Dark-coloured urine
Does your urine tend to be dark-coloured throughout the day? This may be a sign of dehydration that you should not overlook.
The yellow tint of urine is caused by a breakdown product of bilirubin. When you produce less urine, the concentration of this substance is greater, making your urine darker.
Constipation
Drinking water helps soften stools, making them easier to pass. If you don’t drink enough water, your stools will tend to be harder, increasing your risk of constipation.
Of course, if you drink plenty of water and are still constipated, be sure to book an appointment with a healthcare professional.
Poor oral health
If you don’t drink enough water every day, it can affect your oral health.
When you’re dehydrated, your saliva, which is largely made up of water, decreases. Your risk of developing mouth infections and cavities increases because you don’t have enough saliva to rinse your mouth properly.
Bloating
Are you prone to bouts of heartburn, burping, or bloating? These functional digestive disorders can be caused by anxiety and excess weight, but also by not drinking enough water. This is all the more true if you exercise regularly without sufficient hydration.
If your digestive system doesn’t get enough water, it has trouble functioning properly, increasing the risk of digestive problems.
More wrinkles
Like other organs in your body, your skin cells are mostly made up of water. When you don’t drink enough water, these cells can’t function at their best, meaning you’re more likely to have dry skin.
People with dry skin tend to have more wrinkles than the average person. Fortunately, drinking sufficient water helps hydrate the skin and slow the appearance of wrinkles.
Chronic bad breath
Do you have chronic bad breath? If you’re not a fan of spicy foods or garlic, your issue may be a lack of hydration.
If you don’t drink enough water, you’re more likely to experience dry mouth. When your mouth doesn’t have enough saliva to clean itself properly, it tends to smell bad.
Always sick
Poor diet and lack of sleep are often blamed when someone is sick all the time. However, dehydration is another risk factor to keep in mind.
Water helps flush toxins from the body and fight infections. If your body is dehydrated, even slightly, it can be harder for it to protect you from viruses and bacteria.
Frequent sugar cravings
Are you always craving sugar? Sugar can have serious long-term health consequences, yet sugar cravings can be caused by something as simple as not drinking enough water.
Health specialists recommend drinking water regularly to reduce sugar cravings.
Philippe Michaud, Espresso
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