No matter who you are, drinking water is important. But for some people, for various reasons, drinking significant amounts of water every day is a necessity. The articles found below explore different segments of the population and their specific hydration needs. Click on the articles that interest you and your family.

INFANTS:

Dehydration in infants can be extremely dangerous. They experience more than four times the amount of normal fluid loss than adults experience when dehydrated.

Causes of infant dehydration:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Symptoms of infant dehydration:

• Low-grade fever
• Dry mouth
• Lack of tears
• Listlessness
• Fussiness

Symptoms of severe infant dehydration:

• Few or no wet diapers
• Fast heart rate
• Sunken eyes
• A sunken, soft spot developing on the head

Ways to help prevent infant dehydration:

• Make sure infant is drinking enough fluids
• Breast feed
• In serious cases, physicians have prescribed electrolyte mixes that provide sodium as well as necessary vitamins and minerals. Consult your doctor if you have questions regarding your infant and dehydration.
  

CHILDREN

Children are also in a high-risk dehydration category, although they are not as vulnerable to dehydration as infants. An especially active child may lose one to two quarts of water a day.

Causes of dehydration in children:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Too much sun
• Fever
• Too much exercise

Symptoms of dehydration in children:

• Dry, non-elastic skin
• Dark urine
• Dry mouth
• Sunken eyes

Ways to help prevent dehydration in children:

• When playing in the sun, take a water break every 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drink water during activity breaks, NOT soda or juice. (Soda often has caffeine and sugar, while juice has sugar).

Drinking fluoridated tap water is also a good source of fluoride for children. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. BRITA systems have been tested and verified to remove only a trace amount of fluoride over the life of a filter.

PREGNANCY

What's best for a pregnant woman is best for her baby. Which includes drinking plenty of water.

Like infants and children, expectant mothers are more prone to dehydration than the average adult. Primarily because pregnant women experience morning sickness, which can leave them dehydrated. Increased heat production and perspiration during pregnancy also account for a rise in fluid losses.

New mothers who breast-feed their babies also need to increase their daily water intake. A new mother loses more water in her system than usual when breast-feeding.

Expectant and new mothers should be sure they are getting enough fluoride. During pregnancy, fluoride is essential for the healthy development of a baby´s bones and teeth. After a child is born, fluoride in a mother´s breast milk aids in the child´s healthy teeth development. Fluoridated tap water is one of the best sources for fluoride. Many bottled water brands do not contain the level of fluoride recommended by dentists. Over the life of the filter, BRITA filtration systems remove only a trace amount of the essential fluoride commonly found in tap water.

SENIORS

The older we get, the greater the odds our brains will forget to inform us that we're thirsty. Which is why, to prevent dehydration, it's imperative that seniors drink a sufficient amount of water every day, whether they feel thirsty or not.

Lack of thirst sensitivity isn't the only thing that differentiates seniors from younger adults when it comes to dehydration. Some seniors decrease their water intake due to fear of urinary incontinence, while others experience mild nephrogenic diabetes insipitus - a type of diabetes that's common among the elderly. Nephrogenic diabetes insipitus can cause dehydration.

Symptoms of dehydration in seniors:

• Dry, inelastic skin
• Confusion
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Thirst

Benefits seniors can experience by drinking plenty of water:

• Helps prevent kidney stones
• Can ease constipation
• Improves condition of skin
• Improves mental sharpness
• Aids digestion
• Increases blood pressure and helps circulation

DIETS

The simple act of drinking a lot of water can be extremely beneficial to dieters. The right amount of water in the body helps the body perform at its best, burning fat and calories. It is also a good substitute for snacking throughout the day.

The downside to not drinking enough water for dieters is that it can actually increase body fat. When the body gets dehydrated, it seeks water from other sources, including fat cells. If your fat cells have less water, there's less mobilization of fat for energy. Not to mention, without enough water, your kidneys won't function as well, putting extra stress on the liver, which won't be able to metabolize as much fat as it should.

In other words,losing weight will become a difficult task if you're not drinking enough water.

ATHLETES

Clearly, athletes are at a higher risk of becoming dehydrated than most people. Which is something athletes need to be keenly aware of at all times. In fact, many health experts would argue that for an athlete to perform at his or her peak, nothing is more important than being properly hydrated.

Symptoms of dehydration in athletes:

• Nausea
• Chills
• Elevated heart rate
• Inability to sweat
• Light-headedness

Hydration tips for athletes:

• Eat a balanced meal and drink plenty of water 24 hours before a major workout
• Drink two cups of water before exercising
• Drink water at regular intervals while exercising
• Weigh yourself before and after vigorous workouts to make sure you've replaced the fluids lost from working out
• If urine is dark after exercising, drink more water
• Don't drink beverages high in sugar while exercising
• Water is the best fluid replacement for athletes.