The Importance of Hydration: Are You Getting Enough Water?

What a great example nature sets for us as we witness the miracle of beautiful flowers, blooming trees, and green grass that the spring rains bring! Water is vitally important for nature and our physical bodies are no exception. Let’s look closer into why water is so important to us (especially for our spinal joints!), and discuss some helpful hints for easily working in more water throughout the day without it feeling like a chore. So grab a glass of water and read on!

Water and the Human Body
Water comprises about 50 to 70% of our body weight. Breaking it down even further, water makes up 25% of your bones, 75% of your brain, 80% of your muscles, and 85% of your blood. Those are some incredible numbers! Water is also critical for metabolism, waste removal, blood circulation and regulation of body temperature.

Signs of Dehydration
The signs of mild to moderate dehydration are well known: headaches, fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps, dry mouth and dry skin to name a few. Even more sobering are the signs from extreme dehydration: irritability, confusion, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, and low blood pressure. It goes without saying that you can’t be at your best when you’re dehydrated, and in extreme cases it can be extremely harmful to your health. (Humans can only survive for mere days without water!)

Water and Your Spine
Have you ever wondered how proper hydration might affect your spine specifically? There are cushioning discs between the vertebrae in your spine which absorb shock and help with the movement of your spine. At birth, these intervertebral discs are composed of 80% water. Without proper hydration, your discs cannot do their job. You may even notice that your back pain increases when you are dehydrated. Getting enough water into your body will improve the outcome of your chiropractic care and ultimately your overall quality of life.

Tips for Increased Hydration
Always have water available to you wherever you are!

• Find a water bottle you enjoy using. We see the benefits of this firsthand with our own boys. Since we invested in some water bottles they really like, they drink more water! There are many options out there and they are not all equal.
• Keep a glass or bottle of water on your bedside table. First thing when you sit up in bed in the morning, drink it all. This one habit will start you on the right path before you even begin your day. Try this for a few days and take note of your energy level in the morning.
• Whenever you finish a glass or bottle of water, fill it up immediately. Don’t put it off or get distracted.
• Set the timer on your phone to remind you throughout the day to drink your water. (Your phone already rules your life anyway…put it to good use!)
• Challenge yourself to drink a certain amount of water at different points in the day. One glass when you wake up, one glass when you arrive at the office, one glass at lunch, one glass at 2:00pm, one glass with dinner, etc.
• Link drinking water with another activity or habit you do each day. Just got back from the washroom? Drink some water. Just had a snack? Drink some water. Went to the printer to pick up your document? Drink some water. Just drank some water? Drink some water. You get the picture.

We hope this blog will serve as a reminder for you to develop the simple daily habit of getting enough water into your body! It’s the little habits done consistently that have the greatest affect on your health.

Yours in health,
Dr. Derek & Marisol Haughton