Water Within- Column by San Juan Island EMS Chief Jim Cole

posted 05/30/2008
Keeping hydrated is one of the most important ways to keep up us healthy and disease free. Being properly hydrated person will also have a stronger immune system and will fight infection more successfully.

Our bodies are mostly water, so it stands to reason that we need a lot of it. Our skin, the largest organ in our bodies, is chiefly responsible to regulate our temperature and hydration, along with our kidneys. But in our over caffeinated busy worlds, many Americans are actually under hydrated. Thirst is our brain's way of telling us that we need more water, but as we age, we lose our thirst response.

Being in a cooler moist climate also decreases this response. Certain medical conditions of the intestines and certain types of medications will also cause dehydration. Of course, fever, vomiting, flu and diarrhea can quickly cause us to become deyhdrated as well.

Being under hydrated may lead to:

Dizziness that causes falls and accidents
Infections in the kidneys and bladder
Alteration of medication in the bloodstream and its effect in the body
Slower healing of infections and wounds
Fatigue and mental confusion resulting in accident and injury
Clotting emergencies such as heart attack, stroke and clots in the legs.

A properly hydrated person:

Usually has fewer infections and heals faster
Maintains proper levels of prescribed medications in their bloodstream
Has fewer blood clot emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes
Can endure trauma and injury with a greater blood reserve and stays out of shock longer
Maintains better thinking ability because of good blood flow to the brain
Has a decreased appetite which can help with weight loss

So how much should we drink? There are many formulas for minimum suggestions of fluid intake, but it highly depends on a person's physical makeup, medical history, age, climate, environmental termperature and amount of exertion.

So here are a few easy ways for anyone to keep properly hydrated:

Cut down on caffeinated beverages that cause your kidneys to remove water from your body
Increase your non-caffeinated beverage intake over your caffeinated beverage intake.

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Chief Jim Cole from San Juan Island EMS has been a Nationally Registered Paramedic for more than 20 years and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Community Health and a Master of Art Degree in Higher Education. He is currently enrolled in the Health Sciences Master Degree Program in Emergency Services Management through George Washington University. Prior to coming to San Juan, he was the Director of the School of EMS for the Cleveland Clinic Health System. Suggestions for future topics can be sent to chief@sanjuanems.org.