While a human body can survive for several weeks without food, it cannot survive without water for just a few days. Dehydration is a condition wherein there is an excessive loss of water and salts from the body. Water is by far the single most important component of the human body - on average about 60% by weight. The human body needs water to transport nutrients and wastes; it also acts as lubricants and shock absorber. Along with the fluids, the body also needs electrolytes to function well.

Recommended Fluid Intake:

• Everyone should drink at least eight to 12 glasses of non-alcoholic fluids a day.
• Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables also increases fluid intake.

Who need to drink more fluid?

• Babies, because they perspire over a large surface area in relation to their fluid volume.
• Elderly people because body tissues lose water with aging; they also become less sensitive to thirst.
• People who live in hot climates.
• Athletes and outdoor workers should drink extra fluids before, during, and after prolonged physical activity.
• People on high-protein weight-loss diets or body-building regimens also risk dehydration, because the body uses more water to get rid of protein waste products.
• Anyone who has fever, diarrhea and vomiting.

Causes:

• Stress
• Blood loss, Diarrhea, and Vomiting
• Water and electrolytes are also lost through sweat, urine and breathing.
• Prolonged physical activity .
• Prolonged exposure to dry air, example in airplanes.
• Use of caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic, which is a substance that increases urination, causing you to loose extra body fluids. Caffeine drinks include soda, coffee, or tea.
• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Dieting can sap a person's water reserves as well. Dieters who use diuretics and laxatives to shed excess pounds through fluid loss are fooling themselves. The weight will be gained back as soon as the body restores the fluid balance.

Symptoms of Dehydration: Symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe. In the early stages of dehydration, there are no signs or symptoms. Mild dehydration symptoms are yellow urine, lack of elasticity in the skin, dry mouth, headaches, muscle aches.

Prevention:

• Drinking half glass of water every hour is by far the best prevention for dehydration.
• An hour before exercise drink, drink 1 to 2 glasses of water, milk, unsweetened juice, or a sports drink. Continue drinking fluid depending on how much you sweat.
• Add more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

How to treat severe dehydration: Acute diarrhea may result to death in infants and young children because of dehydration. Dehydration from diarrhea can be prevented by giving extra fluids at home, or it can be treated effectively and cheaply in all age-groups by giving patients by mouth an adequate glucose-electrolyte solution called Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) solution.