Final answer:
Dehydration is the result of the body losing more water than it takes in, causing symptoms like thirst, dizziness, and potentially leading to serious health risks if not properly addressed. It can be exacerbated by heat, illness, or physical activity without proper hydration.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Dehydration?
Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the loss of water exceeds the body's intake of water, leading to a negative water balance. It is commonly caused by factors such as prolonged physical activity without adequate water intake, heat exposure, vomiting, diarrhea, and illness. Dehydration can result in symptoms such as thirst, dizziness, headaches, low blood pressure, fatigue, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness or death.
Effects of Dehydration on the Body
When dehydrated, the body experiences a decrease in blood volume which causes water from within cells to move into the bloodstream to compensate, leading to cell shrinkage. This impacts the body's normal function and can lead to further health complications. Dehydration, especially chronic dehydration, can increase the risk for serious conditions such as kidney stones, exercise-induced asthma, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Preventing Dehydration
Preventing dehydration is crucial, especially in environments prone to causing excessive water loss. Burn patients, for instance, are at high risk due to massive loss of fluid from damaged skin and are treated with intravenous fluids and nutrients to combat the effects of dehydration and to prevent infections.