Why You Should Focus on Staying Hydrated When You’re Sick

April 10, 2020

If you fall sick with the flu or another virus, it’s important for you to stay hydrated. You’ve probably heard this advice over and over again: “Drink lots of water!” But what is it about proper hydration that helps your body when you’re sick?

Here are just a few of the biggest benefits of staying hydrated while sick in Scottsdale, AZ:

  • Avoid dehydration: A lot of flu or virus patients get hospitalized not for symptoms associated with the illness, but for dehydration. Issues such as congestion, fever and vomiting can all result in losing a significant amount of fluids, so if you’re not drinking enough water while you’re sick, you fail to replace those essential fluids you’ve lost, meaning you’re going to experience symptoms of dehydration like headaches, dizziness and weakness. There are also certain types of medications that can result in dehydration as a side effect, so depending on the kind of medications you’re taking, it can become even more important for you to drink lots of water while you’re sick.
  • Prevent diseases: Consider that water makes up approximately 60 percent of your body weight. With water being such an important building block of the human body, it is important for you to keep your water levels in good shape. Water helps transport nutrients throughout the body and eliminate waste, both of which are essential processes for healthy bodily function. By staying hydrated, you’ll keep your body functioning properly, build your immune system and lower your risk of diseases and various health conditions.
  • Other health benefits: Water is very helpful in the digestive process and the absorption of nutrients. Staying properly hydrated is especially beneficial for your kidneys, as it provides some much-needed assistance for balancing electrolytes and filtering waste, which are the two main jobs of the kidneys. Drinking water can also help prevent congestion and make it easier for you to cough mucus out of the body. Once the infected mucus has left the body, drinking water will help you to replace that mucus and keep all your mucus membranes in good condition.

When people tell you to drink fluids, your best bet is always going to be water. You should avoid overly sugary beverages like soda, juice or sports drinks, and caffeinated beverages like coffee or energy drinks. Focus instead on drinking lots of water, and supplement with herbal teas, which can have a relaxing effect on the throat and deliver some important vitamins and nutrients to your body to help your immune system. For example, green teas or teas that are fortified with vitamin C are ideal for you to drink in times of sickness.

We hope this information has been useful to you in a time when many people are falling ill. Stay safe and healthy, and make sure you drink lots of water. For more information about the importance of hydration when you’re feeling sick in Scottsdale, AZ, reach out to the team at WES Water today. We look forward to assisting you soon!

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