Secrets of Self-Care | Dehydration

Written by Alicia Cassels, MA, OneOp Military Caregiving Team Member

Issues Related to Dehydration

Proper hydration is important in maintaining wellness. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), proper hydration helps the heart pump blood more easily and helps with muscle performance. The AHA points out that dehydration can lead to swollen feet, headache and in some extreme cases, heat stroke. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cautions that dehydration can contribute to unclear thinking, mood change, constipation, overheating and kidney stones (2017).

In a 2011 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, young women who were mildly dehydrated experienced degraded mood, lower concentration and increased perception of task difficulty. Another study, conducted at the University of Connecticut and published in the British Journal of Nutirition showed that mild dehydration impairs mental performance and mood in men (2011).

This is the second in three installments of the Secrets of Self-Care – Upgrade Your Health: Hydrate series.

You can catch up on part one – “Is Hydration One of Your Daily Priorities” and be sure to check back soon for the final installment, “How Much Fluid Should We Drink Each Day?”

Cited Research and Additional Sources:

American Heart Association. (2014). Staying Hydrated-Staying Healthy. [Web Article]. Retrieved May 25, 2017, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/Staying-Hydrated—Staying-Healthy_UCM_441180_Article.jsp#.WShG32jys2w).
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The role of obesity in the relation between total water intake and urine osmolality in US adults, 2009–2012.
Armstrong, l. E. et, al. (2012). The Journal of Nutrition. Mild Dehydration Affects Mood in Healthy Young Women. 382-388.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Get the Facts: Drinking Water and Intake. [Web Article]. Retrieved May 17, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/plain-water-the-healthier-choice.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Water & Nutrition. [Web Article]. Retrieved May 17, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/nutrition/index.html
Ganio, M. S. et, al. (2011). British Journal of Nutrition. Mild Dehydration Impairs Cognitive Performance and Mood of Men. 106, 1535–1543.
U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs National Caregiver Training Program Caregiver Workbook. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from http://docplayer.net/15786612-Module-1-caregiver-self-care.html
U.S. Geological Survey. (2016). The Water in You. [Web Article]. Retrieved May 17, 2017 from (https://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html).