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Dehydration as a cause of constipation
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Important information about water
Adults consist of approximately 65% of water, and a child - up to 75%. Water is the source of life. Every day, we lose about 4% of the water that needs to be replenished, especially during the heat, in countries with hot climates.
When the human body temperature rises above 37 ° C, it is recommended to increase the volume of 250 ml of liquid per degree above 37 º C. In addition, it is necessary to control the air temperature in the room - it should be moderate.
To prevent dehydration, you need to know the standards that have been established through research and have been taken into account on the basis of the recommendations of the Dietary Food Group and the European Food Safety Allergy (EFSA). The most vulnerable to dehydration is the body of pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly and the disabled.
Why is dehydration the cause of constipation?
Because with insufficient intake of water, the stool becomes dry and does not pass well through the intestine. The water is immediately absorbed by the walls of the intestine, it does not enter the stool, so the intestine becomes difficult to pass. From here and constipations - at strong natuzhivanii - minmalnye results.
Adult fluid intake
For adults over 19 years of age, daily fluid intake is 2 liters per day for women and 2.5 liters for men. The same requirements apply to girls and boys aged 14 to 19 years. From the practice of counteracting constipation, it is known that fluid intake is a separate issue - its quantity depends not only on environmental conditions, but also on diet and movement.
Pregnant women belong to a group of people at increased risk of dehydration (dehydration), as they may have big problems with providing enough water due to aversion to certain foods or unwillingness to consume fluids due to morning sickness. In doing so, they often suffer from constipation.
During pregnancy, the need for water increases due to increased body weight. The growth of the body of a future mother is usually from 10 to 15 kg, and also due to the growing demand for energy, increased blood volume, amniotic fluid accumulation and increased water excretion that may occur during morning sickness. Women expecting a child should drink at least 2.3 liters of liquid a day, and those who breastfeed - even 2.7 liters a day.
[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]
Children under special control
Infants and children are more susceptible to dehydration than adults. Recommendations for water intake for infants and children include moderate temperatures and average physical activity. Infants and children need water to supplement the shortcomings of proper breathing, sweating, urination and intensive development of the body. Diarrhea and vomiting, which are quite common in children, can lead to dehydration if the water shortage is not completed. Therefore, young children may have constipation due to dehydration.
Since children can not communicate their needs clearly, and babies can be too absorbed in what they do to forget to drink in time, the role of adults is very important to prevent their possible dehydration, especially in the summer or during illness.
In hot weather, you can give chilled drinks to children - the ones that they like. All drinks, including water, milk, juices, carbonated drinks and other liquids, produce irrigation of the intestine and moistening of stool. Then with constipation there will be no problems. It should also protect children from overheating on hot days, offering them a break in the shade.
Interestingly, the choice of drinks for children helps them to achieve better results in concentration tests and improves short-term memory, and also helps the learning process. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure proper hydration of the body even when the children are in school. This will also relieve them of the problems associated with constipation.
Dehydration is especially dangerous in old age
Dehydration can cause serious problems in old age, and can even be life-threatening. In people aged 85-99 years, the risk of hospitalization due to dehydration is 6 times higher than that of people aged 65-69 years.
Elderly people are at greater risk for various reasons. Usually you need to drink when you feel thirsty. However, for people over the age of 60, liquids can not be enough if they drink only when they feel they are thirsty. This is because the body of an elderly person can not so quickly give a signal about their needs and it comes to the first signs of dehydration, but there is still no thirst.
The need to drink can also be blocked due to the taking of certain medicines. Take into account the fact that many elderly people have memory problems. Thus, doctors and relatives should remind elderly people to drink enough fluids by painting on paper when and how an elderly person should drink water.
The ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine usually decreases with age, which leads to an increase in the release of water. In addition, problems with appetite or poor nutrition can lead to a reduction in fluid intake.
Chronic dehydration is a serious problem and is associated with an increased risk of falls, urinary tract infections, oral diseases, lung diseases, kidney stones, constipation, and even cognitive impairment. Thus, older people should have free access to drinks at any time of the day or night.
Pay attention to the heat!
In hot weather, it should be remembered that in addition to the usual loss of water, which can vary from 2 to 3 liters per day, not only these losses, but also the loss of mineral salts - especially sodium and potassium - must be taken into account. Water a day from 70 to 80% covers the need for a person in it, the rest 30% comes to food.
A rich source of liquid is berries, especially strawberry, melon, grapefruit, grapes, peaches, pears, oranges, apples. And also vegetables such as cucumbers, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, onions, carrots. They contain 80 to 95% water. Observing the daily balance of hydration, keep in mind that even rice, spaghetti and seafood contain between 65 and 80% of water.
Most drinks are a source of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the body and prevention of constipation.
Symptoms of dehydration
Sometimes you ignore the first signs of dehydration, such as headaches, fatigue, thirst, which appears only in the middle of the dehydration phase. The next symptom is lethargy, loss of skin elasticity, heart palpitations. Severe dehydration is accompanied by loss of 10% of body weight, as well as symptoms such as rapid breathing, cold clammy skin, changes in mental status - it is life-threatening and requires immediate medical intervention.
And, conversely, drinking enough water, you eliminate these unpleasant problems from your life, having a healthy bowel and eliminating all problems with constipation.