Could hidden dehydration be the cause of your daytime fatigue?
We’ve all experienced thirst and it’s unpleasant. It’s also the first sign of dehydration, which can progress quickly. Mild to moderate dehydration develops after just a few hours, depending on age, health and environmental factors, and sufferers can experience fatigue, dizziness and confusion. After 24 hours, the effects of severe dehydration could result in serious symptoms, including shock and seizures.
Hidden dehydration (or low-chronic dehydration) is a much more subtle state that can occur if you are mildly dehydrated over a long period of time, and it can have both physical and mental effects.
Could it be the cause of the dreaded mid-afternoon slump?
The effects of hidden dehydration
As the name suggests, hidden dehydration is a somewhat covert state and you may be suffering the effects of it while unaware of the cause.
According to NHS guidance, fatigue is listed among the main symptoms of hidden dehydration, which also include:
• Dark urine
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Lack of concentration
The human body is made up of an average 60% of water. The brain and heart are 73% water and muscles contain 75% water. Dehydration causes blood volume to drop, resulting in lower blood pressure, which means reduced blood flow to the brain, causing fatigue. Humans experience a natural circadian energy dip post-lunch; however, if you have not hydrated sufficiently throughout the entirety of the day, your body will be running a deficit causing this slump to be more extreme.
The NHS recommends an adult should drink between six to eight glasses of water (1.2-2 litres) at regular intervals throughout the day. It’s hardly news that drinking more water equals a well-hydrated body, but how much does water quality matter?
Is water quality important?
In the UK, we enjoy a globally recognised, high standard of drinking water. However, it still contains hard minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, and while these are not harmful they can make water taste unpleasant for some.
With the NHS advising that we drink up to 2 litres a day, a fresh-tasting supply will undoubtedly help us reach our water goals.
“Installing a water filter is one of the easiest ways to improve the quality of your tap water,” says Waterdrop Filter. “Filters can remove impurities… as well as improve the taste.”
What is reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is a system used by Waterdrop Filter to purify water in its filtration systems. Water is forcibly pushed through a semipermeable membrane, removing impurities, including:
• Lead, arsenic, mercury
• Chlorine, fluoride
• Microorganisms
• Dissolved salts and minerals
Waterdrop Filter offers two reverse osmosis systems, X16 and A2. The X16 features an 11-stage process with a 0.0001μm RO membrane, effectively reducing TDS, PFOA, PFOS, chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, lead, and more. It has a flow rate of 1,600 gallons a day, so it’s good for bigger households. It requires electrical installation under the sink and features include an LED light for water safety, plus energy-saving mode.
Buy the Waterdrop X16.
The A2 is a smaller, countertop system, which suits individuals or smaller households. The A2 filtration system features a five-stage process with a 0.0001μm RO membrane, reducing TDS, PFOA, PFOS, chlorine, fluoride, lead and arsenic. Features include temperature control, ranging from 10°C to 95°C, and a touch control screen with customisable temperature and volume settings.
Buy the Waterdrop A2.
Drop by drop
Improving your water drinking habits by having a steady intake throughout the day will have positive results, particularly if you suffer from mid-afternoon brain fog and fatigue.