"How Hydration Impacts Your Health: Preventing Kidney Stones and More"

Hydration is a crucial part of human life—as commonly known, water can compose up to 70 or 75 percent of our body. Therefore, maintaining an adequate level of hydration is a key to sustain one’s life. Yet, if one experiences dehydration, its effect on health might be significant. This post delves into the possible danger of dehydration and how to prevent it.

1. Role of hydration (water) in our body

   1. Deliver oxygen all over your body through blood.

   2. Aid digestion and get rid of waste.

   3. Make saliva

2. Kidney stones

   1. Kidney stones are solid masses or crystals that form from substances (like minerals, acids and salts) in your kidneys. (Cleveland Clinic)

   2. Caused by dehydration—too little liquid in your urine may cause it to crystalize and create kidney stones.

   3. Symptoms

      1. Bloody urine

      2. Nausea and vomiting

      3. Fever or chill

3. How to prevent kidney stones

   1. Increased fluid intake

   2. Limit salt/sodium

   3. Take calcium supplements

4. Adequate fluid intake

   1. For men: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day

   2. For women: About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day

Sources:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9013-dehydration 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15604-kidney-stones 

https://www.mountsinai.org/care/urology/services/kidney-stones/prevention 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256