Drinking too little: Overview of symptoms and consequences

In everyday life it can happen that we drink too little water. This manifests itself in various symptoms and can also lead to more serious health consequences. In our article you can read which these are and how your body can best absorb water.

Overview of symptoms: Drinked too little

The human body consists to a large extent of water and it constantly needs new liquid in order to be able to maintain all functions. If it is warm or you are doing physically difficult work, use more water than in cool temperatures and calm. The body uses water for various functions and you constantly sweat it out.

• If your body consumes 0.5 to 3% of the water, you get thirsty. Your body signals you that you need water. Already in this area you work a little less concentrated than with enough water.
• With up to 5% water loss, there is already a headache. The mouth dries out and you are clearly more concentrated and no longer very efficient.
• If you lose more than 5% water, the blood volume decreases. The heart now has to work a lot harder to pump the blood through your body, although at the same time it is not as powerful due to the loss of water.
• From 6% water loss, fever can occur as a reaction of the body. In addition, nausea and dizziness can occur.
• With about 12% less water in the body, a confused state sets in because the brain does not have enough liquid. You become disoriented and can no longer classify what you are doing. Your circulation can also collapse.
• From a water loss of 15% at the latest, death occurs due to heart failure.

Drink water properly

Adequate water intake is very important to keep you focused and active. So that your body can absorb the water well, we have a few tips for you:

• It usually doesn't matter whether you drink tap water or still water from a bottle. Even carbonated water provides you with liquid.
• However, you cannot drink 2 liters at a time and then nothing else for the rest of the day: your body does not absorb so much water at once, so that you can simply excrete most of it.
• Therefore, drink a glass of water regularly in order to optimally supply the body with liquid.
• How much water you need to drink depends on various factors. If you perform heavy physical activities, this can be 2.5 liters per day. If you work in the office and it is not too warm, many people can get by with 1.5 liters.

You can't drink too much and water can be kept forever. In our next article, you will find out what is involved in these myths.