This post enlists sources of loss of water from the human body. If you thought urine was the only way how water goes out of body? think again! it’s one of the means of water loss from the body only. Read below to know how water is lost from the body.
Sources of water loss from body
Water is lost from the body by following way and routes:
1. Water loss through urine
Quite obvious that urine is all made of water and mostly excess water is filtered out of the body. Urine is produced when the blood is passed through kindneys and toxins form the blood are filtered out of the body. During this process, kidneys also filter out excess water too. As the body loses water the amount of urine produced reduces too and ultimately concentrated urine is produced.
2. Water loss through sweating
Sweat is all salt water with some other constituents. When we sweat the sweat glands filter out water form the blood and the nutrients and it appears as sweat on our skin.
Sweating does not happen in sun or heat only. It can also be through regular sweating that we have, even if we don’t notice any sweat on our skin consciously.
3. Water loss via breathing
Water is lost with every breath we take. The lungs filter out small amount of water from the blood in the pulmonary capillaries with each breathing cycle. This water goes out with each breath that we expire. Ever noticed the fog or “smoke” or “fumes” coming out of our mouth in winters? That’s warm water that comes out of our lungs with each breath and appears that way due to sudden cooling down of warm water vapors.
4. Water loss via vomiting
Vomiting includes water and many nutrients. Vomiting don’t just include what you’ve eaten. It brings out more than that and can even cause dehydration and also loss of high amount of important nutrients from the body.
Therefore water and minerals replacement is important for patients who suffer with excessive vomiting.
5. Water loss through feces / stools
They’re not just solids or semi solids. Some water is lost with feces too, and a lot is lost in case of diarrhea. That’s why fluid and minerals replacement is an important part of treatment of diarrhea.
6. Water loss via bleeding
Quite obvious, when ever there is blood loss, it will also result in water loss and blood is nothing but water containing many cells and other constituents.
How much water to drink per day
Take almost 8 glasses of water a day minimum to keep your body properly hydrated. You can take it up to 3 liters of water intake daily too to replenish water in the body. Especially if you’re sweating more or have diarrhea, any condition that’s causing excessive water loss from the body.
Remaining hydrated is important and lack of water can present with many symptoms including irritation, confusion, constipation or even hunger, etc.