There are a few things you can do that are more important for your health than drinking water. This is very self-evident for anyone who has ever gone a long time without water. You can survive without food for significantly longer than you can survive without water and right behind oxygen, it is one of the most basic elements we require to survive.
And it’s importance is also seen in the fact that 75% of the human body is made up of water. When you don’t drink enough, you literally aren’t getting enough of the very ‘stuff’ that makes you. And thus, serious issues will follow.
What makes all this worrying is the fact that 75% of Americans spend the vast majority of their time dehydrated. Most of us drink nowhere near enough and even if you follow the ‘seven glasses’ rule, you might find that you actually could do with getting a little more hydration.
Nearly every part of your body is affected by dehydration and none of the symptoms are particularly pleasant. In this post, we will look at 18 of the most common effects that come from not getting enough water. Hopefully, you’ll recognize just how important it is to start drinking more and you’ll reach for the tap!
Of course, these symptoms can also be used as a yardstick to measure your own hydration. If you are unsure if you’re getting enough water, then lookout for these signs and you’ll likely have the answer!
1. Constipation
Let’s start with a particularly uncomfortable symptom of dehydration that is also rather hard to miss.
Being dehydrated will cause constipation because it basically means there is no fluid in your stool. That in turn means the stool is likely to be rough and hard and that means it is more likely to get stuck in the intestines where it can create a painful and highly uncomfortable blockage. Not good!
Drinking more water is thus also one of the very best ways to cure constipation and can help you to quickly soften the stool and pass it. Not a nice thought really but certainly a very good reason to get drinking more fluids!
