Water is the most important nutrient that humans can give to their bodies. In fact, human adults are made up of about 60-70% water. Water is essential for our cells, organs, and muscles to function properly. When we do not hydrate properly, it can cause strain on one of the most vital organs, the heart. The measure of blood coursing through your body, or blood volume, diminishes when you are dehydrated. This is because blood consists mainly of water and we need a continuous supply of water to keep our blood thin so it can move through our body easily. When dehydrated, our blood thickens and makes the walls of blood vessels constrict which can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and thus strains our heart. To redress, your heart beats quicker, increasing your heart rate and causing you to feel palpitations. Additionally your blood retains more sodium, making it harder for it to circulate through your body. Drinking control mineral water can cause a significant fall in the heart rate if dehydrated. Some signs to watch for when dehydrated are feeling thirsty, dark yellow and strong-smelling pee, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, feeling tired, a dry mouth, lips and eyes, peeing little, and urinating fewer than four times a day. Although people say you should drink about eight glasses (64 ounces) of water every day, we actually need a little more than that. However, water needs are dependent on climate, activity level, gender, medications, etc. Most women need around 90 ounces and most men need 125 ounces of total water every day. This includes the water one gets from food and other beverages too. Some ways to get more water are to always carry a water bottle with you and to drink at every meal!

Works Cited:

1. Johansson, Benny. "Effects of Functional Water on Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, and Salivary Immunoglobulin a in Healthy Humans: a Pilot Study." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2009, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19678777/.
2. "The Link Between Dehydration and Heart Disease." Viveve, 2020, us.viveve.com/the-link-between-dehydration-and-heart-disease/.