ABSTRACT

Considering 60% of the body is composed of water it makes sense that dehydration has
detrimental effects on both physical and cognitive function. People are just beginning to
understand how important water is to the human body and also the extent of damage caused
during states of dehydration. Water possesses many important jobs within the body. It allows
waste to be flushed from both the body and cells, protects the eyes, teeth and tongue and even
regulates body temperature. Water not only affects the body physically but also mentally. A
lack in water leads to decreased concentration levels, difficulty with short and long term memory
and even coordination problems. If allowed to progress dehydration can ultimately leads to
seizures, coma and even death. Without water there would be no life. Everything in the body
depends on water in one way or another.

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 Abraham Maslow, a psychologist and professor at Brandeis University, created a

hierarchy of needs often known as Maslow’s Pyramid. It ranks in order of importance, the

human necessities for life. The very bottom of the pyramid holds one of the most basic needs for

human existence; water (Van Wagner, 2008). Water is essential for life. Remarkably 60% of

the human body is composed of water and every function depends on this necessity in one way

or another (Harms, 2006). Water regulates body temperature, provides cells with oxygen and

nutrients, removes wastes, and is the basic substance in bodily secretions. Keeping the body

hydrated is very important for function in every-day life. The human body can loose up to 100

ounces of water daily without including water loss during exercise (2008). The lack of

sufficient water in the body is called dehydration. This occurs when the body looses more water

than is taken in. Dehydration creates significant detrimental effects on physical and cognitive

performance and if left untreated can result in permanent damage.

The ideas about the importance of water within the body have changed through out the

years. Previously the idea of water deprivation was a way to prove how strong a person was or

as a test of ones masculinity. If they lasted for a long period of time without water they were

considered to be tough. Now water intoxication is the subject in the spotlight. If a person

ingests more water during exercise than leaves the body through sweat, they are at risk for water

intoxication, a life threatening condition. Many doctors believe that current rehydration

guidelines encourage athletes to drink too much water, while other doctors argue that only

people who participate in triathlons or other long endurance events should worry about this rare

condition (Sawka, 2008). Whatever the answer, the importance of water can not be debated.

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 When dehydrated, the body’s initial reaction is to begin conserving water for vital

organs. The antidiuretic hormone is in charge of the body’s retention of water (Andreas, 2008).

When a state of dehydration occurs it is released to notify the kidneys to begin conserving water.

In response the kidneys begin the process of water reabsorbtion and also slow the flow of water

leaving the body by giving out a small amount of concentrated urine (2008). The urine of a

healthy person is clear or very pale yellow. During a period of water conservation urine

becomes dark yellow or even orange. Since the body attempts to retain as much water as

possible the amount of times a person urinates also decreases. Harmful wastes now remain in

the body because there is an inadequate amount of water to flush them out.

A slightly dehydrated person experiences many signs and symptoms that their body needs

water. A loss in energy is usually the initial symptom of dehydration as the conservation of

water begins. Since cells both contain and are surrounded by water they depend on it to a large

extent. Cells tend to be the first to loose water therefore dehydration affects cellular health

greatly. For instance, water urges the production of energy within cells and drives the

breakdown of ATP. (Ferrara, 2006). If an inadequate amount of water is present this process

slows, resulting in less energy. A person is likely to feel this effect immediately even if the

extent of dehydration is minimal. Another result of dehydration is a less permeable membrane

(2006). This not only prevents hormones and nutrients from coming into the cell but also stops

wastes from leaving the cell. The waste becomes stuck inside, slowly damaging the organelles

within and since no new material is able to enter, the cell shrivels, resembling a prune (Harms,

2006). Water also plays a vital role in keeping the cellular environment stable, therefore

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allowing chemical reactions necessary to life to occur without interference. Cells are greatly

effected during periods of dehydration.

When the body conserves water most glands and ducts are also one of the first to have

water taken away. Dry mouth, for example, is often a symptom of dehydration. Salvia is

composed of 98% water with mucous and enzymes added (Harms, 2006). Secreted by the

salivary glands, the production of saliva largely depends on the water present in the body.

During a state of dehydration, water is taken away from the salivary glands. The remaining

saliva becomes thick or non-existent depending on the extent of dehydration. This is harmful

considering the important role saliva plays in the initial breakdown of foods. Saliva also acts as

a lubricant to protect the teeth, tongue and gums (Harms, 2006). Chewing gum can often cover

up the feeling of thirst because it tricks the mouth into feeling moist, therefore thirst is not a

reliable method for determining dehydration (Harms, 2006).

The job of tears is to clean and lubricate the eye, however when a person is dehydrated,

water is taken away from the tear ducts. This prevents the production of an sufficient quantity of

tears to perform all the necessary tasks. Normally, tears protect and clean an individual’s eyes,

yet when the production of tears decreases eyes become dry and are more prone to irritation

(Harms, 2006).

When a person experiences a state of dehydration the amount of sweat produced also

decreases given that the main component again is water. Sweat plays many important, vital roles

within the human body. For instance, its main job is the regulation of body temperature. The

action of sweating itself lowers inner body temperature. When the sweat evaporates off the

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surface of the skin outer body temperature is cooled also. Sweating requires a significant

amount of water especially if it is a hot, humid day. If more water is put out through the process

of sweating than a person is able to take in they become dehydrated. If the person still fails to

drink water their body will stop sweating all together. Their body temperature will rise

dramatically and continue rising because there is no efficient way to bring it down. Dehydration

greatly affects the body’s ability to regulate temperature and creates a very precarious situation

(2006).

Dehydration not only affects the body physically it also impairs cognitive function as

well. Motor coordination tends to be the first mental capability affected in the beginning stages

of dehydration. It is affected even when only one percent of body weight is lost due to

dehydration. As states earlier, cells unfortunately loose water in the body’s attempt of

conservation, causing them to shrink. The brain cells are no exception, as they can shrink by

10% to 15% depending on the state of dehydration (Grandjean, 2007). This remarkable

decrease in brain mass has detrimental affects on brain function. Since dehydration causes a

person to feel sick, irritability tends to result in the early stages. As dehydration continues,

motor coordination decreases. Muscle twitches and slowed reflexes are affected next if

dehydration continues. In the most extreme cases seizures and ultimately comas have occurred

(2007).

When dehydration increases the ability to concentrate decreases. Many believe this

occurs because feeling of thirst and other symptoms of dehydration distract the individual

(2007). Once thirst is felt, concentration decreases by about 10%. Thirst tends to override any

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other thoughts or feelings within the body. For example, in schools where water is available

through out the entire day teachers have reported increases in concentration levels, academic

performance and good behavior. Students were more willing to work harder, complain less and

were able to work for longer periods of time before becoming antsy. Water should be available

in all schools not only for health reasons but academic reasons as well (2007).

Older individuals are mainly vulnerable to the effects of dehydration. Just like in young

adults, older people experience concentration and memory problems yet these issues emerge

quicker with lower levels of dehydration. The mid cingulated cortex region in the brain is used

to tell the body how much water it needs. In one experiment by Dr. Michael Farrell, individuals

from two groups, one ages 21 to 30 and the other ages 65 to74, drank the same amount of salt

water. They were then allowed to drink as much water as they desired. Participants in the

younger group drank more water and successfully re-hydrated themselves (Andreas 2008).

Participants in the older group ultimately drank half of what the younger group did and even

though they believed they were not thirsty, tests showed they were still dehydrated. Dr. Farrell

blames this on the mid cingulated Cortex region. He believes this region is turned off faster in

older individuals with only small amounts of water. Older individuals feel satisfied faster even

if they are still dehydrated. They have symptoms of dehydration even though they do not

experience feeling of thirst. As a result dehydration is often misdiagnosed with older individuals

(Andreas, 2008). It is very important for older people to drink plenty of water throughout the

day even if they do not feel thirsty.

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 Water is very important to the human body. It is involved in all bodily functions in some

way. It maintains body temperature, flushes toxins from the body, allows for proper

coordination and even allows us to cry. A lack of water is detrimental to the health of each

individual part of the body and also as a whole. Ways to combat dehydration should be of

utmost importance in schools considering the negative effects it can have on learning. As

Maslow’s pyramid shows, water is the basic ingredient for life. Without water life does not

exist.