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Is Dehydration The Culprit Behind Your Aches And Pains?

The importance of staying hydrated

Not everyone finds drinking water to be enjoyable or refreshing. If you’re one of them, you’re in good company. However, it’s still important for you to meet the daily H2O quota of eight 8-ounce glasses – even if you don’t feel thirsty.

If that means adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to your water or purchasing flavor drops, that’s totally fine. You can also incorporate things like soup or hydrating fruits i.e. watermelon and strawberries, into your diet. Since your body is comprised of over 50 percent water, it’s worth giving tactics like these a try even if it seems unnecessary. In reality, most people who are dehydrated don’t realize it. Are you one of them?

Recognize the symptoms.

Believe it or not, the color of your urine isn’t the only way to tell if you’re lacking in the hydration department. There are other signs to look for, such as:

1. Headaches and Migraines – When you become dehydrated, your brain tissue loses water causing it to shrink and pull away from the skull. This triggers the pain receptors surrounding the brain, resulting in a headache. Dehydration also causes blood volume to drop, which lowers the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.

2. Muscle Aches and Cramping – These don’t just happen to marathon runners. Your body, no matter how active you are, only has so much fluid to go around. It prioritizes when water supply is low, keeping the H2O where it’s most important – the main circulatory system, the brain and other vital organs. When the nerves that connect to the muscles aren’t surrounded by as much water and sodium as they need, they become hypersensitive and cause the muscles to involuntarily contract or spasm.

3. Fatigue – Finding it difficult to get up and get going? It might not mean you’re a lazy person; you may just need to have a few more glasses of water. If you are dehydrated the fluid loss causes a drop in blood volume, which makes the heart work harder to push oxygen and nutrients through the bloodstream to the brain, skin and muscles. This can lead to a lack of energy and motivation in most individuals.

4. Sinus Congestion and Allergies – Hydration of the cells acts as an anti-histamine, which helps to fight inflammation. So when this process isn’t taking place it can lead to feelings of pressure build-up at the base of the skull and behind the eyes. The lining in your lungs can also become dry if you are not drinking enough water, making it harder for you to breathe.

5. Cloudy Thoughts and Brain Fogs – The body does not store water. Once it is used, it is gone and must be replaced. If the water is not replaced, the body starts taking water from the cells in the body and brain. Mental effects of dehydration occur because the brain tissues shrink when the body removes water from the brain cells in an attempt to survive.

Now that you’re able to identify the telltale signs of dehydration, what is the next step to ensure you stay properly hydrated? The answer may not be what you think.

Discover the power of electrolytes.

A lot of people think all they have to do is drink more water, but that’s not necessarily true. The solution is to utilize electrolytes. Sodium is an electrolyte and is necessary for water retention. When you hydrate your body properly, it creates a natural anti-histamine response that encourages the cells to function normally. In other words, you’ll be able to stay hydrated for longer without refilling your water bottle 12 times a day.

Plot twist: dehydration may not be the cause.

A pinched nerve or misalignment in the spine at the very top of the neck is another factor that can lead to the same symptoms as dehydration. That nerve, as well as proper spinal alignment, controls blood supply to the brain.

When things aren’t as they should be, there is a decrease in blood flow to the brain that can result in headaches, fatigue, cloudy thoughts and more. Sound familiar? The only way to identify the true underlying cause and address the issue is to see a trusted functional practitioner. Don’t stop drinking water though – it does a body good.

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More about Dr. Chad Cohoon

Dr. Cohoon is not only your Functional Healthcare provider in Frisco, Texas, his practice is the flagship Functional Health Center in America. Dr. Cohoon has been providing an alternative to traditional healthcare since 1995, having impacted the lives of thousands of patients from all over the country. A severe asthma sufferer as a child, Dr. Cohoon decided early on that something different should occur with healthcare, and he wanted to be a part of it. Read More