A dietician, Mr Tunde Ajobo says that pimples, muscle cramps, headaches and fatigue can sometimes indicate that an individual is experiencing dehydration and needs to take water to replenish lost fluids from the body.
Mr Ajobo, who spoke on “Dehydration: Silent Deficiency” at the World Dietician Day celebration of the Institute for Dietetics in Nigeria (IDN), Oyo State Chapter, University College Hospital, Ibadan, said some dehydration signs such as thirst are obvious, but others such as pimples, headache, dizziness, fatigue, increased heart rate and muscle cramps are less apparent.
According to him, dehydration, which can occur from illness, overexertion, heat or low intake of water, if not reversed can cause serious health complications including urinary tract infection, kidney stones and kidney failure, low blood volume and seizures.
He added, “between February and March, we rarely have vacant bed spaces in the renal ward; it coincides with the period of high atmospheric temperature and most of those admitted for kidney problems are youths.”
Mr Ajobo, putting the incidence of dehydration at over 80 per cent in Nigeria, said children and elderly people as well as those with chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes are most at risk of dehydration.
He added that from studies, dehydration is also commoner in individuals that are sedentary, females, physically active men, athletes, those whose jobs expose them directly to the scorching sun and individuals with diarrhea and vomiting or fever or on some medications.
“Oftentimes, people attribute darker yellow urine to malaria, but it can be an indicator of dehydration. Concentrated urine occurs because there is a reduction in urine production since they are not taking enough water.”
Mr Ajobo said individuals are required to take at least three liters of water, especially with the current high atmospheric temperature, exercise only in the cool hours of the day, avoid alcohol, and treat diarrhoea and vomiting promptly as part of measures to avoid dehydration.
The dietician declared: “people should drink in sequence till they meet their water requirement or the day. We shouldn’t drink water only to quench thirst; it is part of what needs to be done to prevent a lot of diseases.”
UCH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, speaking through Dr Toyin Lawal stated that water is life and a major part of the human body, and without water humans become vulnerable to many health challenges.
He declared that inadequate intake of water can lead to dry mouth, a condition that can lead to increased infection in the mouth and bad breath (halitosis.
Former President of IFN, Professor Grace Fadupin, said that water is a nutrient, makes 60 to 80 per cent of the total body weight and is important for body functions and requirements for individuals vary based on the age, activity level and job specification.
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