Staying hydrated is very important for everyone. But how can you ensure that you are staying hydrated? Should you follow the rule that says you need to drink 8 glasses a day or should you rely on your thirst alone?

You can choose any of these two approaches. They will both work for you.

However, you also need to understand that fluid needs vary from person to person. It may also vary depending on the activity level, and my mental conditions, the weather, and the medicines that you are taking.

Staying hydrated is very important but that does not mean that you should go overboard. You don't have to drink more water than you need just for the sake of it. Too much water can result in hyponatremia or water intoxication and it can be life-threatening.

Too much is bad

In normal circumstances, a healthy body can process large amounts of water. It also needs plenty of electrolytes, especially sodium, to process so much water. If you are drinking too much water but there is not enough sodium in the body, it can result in some problems.

In such situations, you may develop hyponatremia. There are some people who are at higher risk of developing this problem. They include-

•  Endurance athletes-these athletes lose large amounts of sodium through sweating. Then they tried to rehydrate their bodies with too much fluid. Excellent people who are suffering from kidney problems
• People over 65 years of age who take different medicines. Such people are also at higher risk they have certain health conditions which make it difficult to get rid of extra fluid or maintain adequate sodium levels.
• Sometimes unsafe crash dieting or binge beer drinking may also cause this problem.

Do you need 8 glasses of water?

Do you need to drink 8 glasses of water every day? Even though it is a popular belief, there is no evidence that suggests that staying hydrated depends on drinking eight 8 ounces glasses of water. Sometimes, for some people, drinking 8 glasses may not be enough to avoid dehydration in certain circumstances.

Dehydration

Dehydration is bad for you and your health. Some people may suffer from mild dehydration frequently. Such people generally have a higher risk of health problems such as constipation, heartburn, kidney stones, and kidney failure. The body of a person suffering from severe dehydration may shut down and go into shock.

That is why it becomes more important to know about the warning signs of dehydration so that you can take the necessary action to protect your life and health.

How does dehydration happen?

If you lose 3 to 5% of your body weight through loss of fluids, then mild dehydration may happen. Loss of fluids may happen in the form of sweat, vomit, or diarrhea.

If you are performing exercise or physical labor in a hot environment and you are already low on fluids, you can get dehydrated within a few.

Safeguard

Human beings are fortunate because there is a safeguard to ensure that dehydration does not happen easily. Dehydration is unlikely to happen without triggering significant thirst. So, when you feel thirsty, you need to listen to your body and drink water. Instead of gulping down lots of water, you can sip water gradually.