Water is essential for human life. Your body's function revolves around the use of water in countless biochemical reactions and processes throughout every organ system. When you exercise, water is lost through the evaporation of sweat from your skin. During intense exercise, excessive sweating may lead to dehydration. The benefits of water with exercise primarily include the prevention of dehydration and its complications.
Heat Injury
Exercise is a high-energy state, capable of generating large amounts of heat. Your body is equipped with mechanisms for regulating body temperature, including the evaporative heat loss that occurs during sweating. Water intake during exercise will ensure your body has enough fluid to produce sweat and regulate core body temperatures. Without these protective measures you would be more likely to experience symptoms of heat injury such as cramps, heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Hypovolemic Shock
Over half of your blood volume is water. This means that changes in total body water, as seen in cases of dehydration, dramatically affect the volume of circulating blood. If dehydration progresses to the point that your blood volume is too low for adequate organ perfusion, you may develop a serious condition known as hypovolemic shock. Without enough blood reaching your organs, oxygen levels in these tissues will fall to hazardous levels. According to Mayo Clinic, hypovolemic shock is a medical emergency that could cause death within minutes.
Kidney Failure
Your kidney's are among the most metabolically active tissues in the body; however, they are also the most susceptible to damage from inadequate blood flow, as is often seen in cases of dehydration. If this vital organ is not receiving enough oxygen to survive, kidney failure may result. Without the ability to filter your blood, or remove excess fluid and wastes from your system, potentially life-threatening complications may arise. By supplementing exercise with plenty of water and fluids, you will help maintain blood volume and will help prevent such dramatic complications of dehydration.
Neurologic Symptoms
The central nervous system is incredibly sensitive to changes in energy supply and water concentration. Neurons, the cells of the nervous system, create the electrical signals that make up our thoughts. In order to function properly, neurons require a constant supply of energy as well as the correct concentration of water outside of cells. During exercise, it is important to take in enough water to maintain blood volume and concentration; these two variables are related to water intake. Small alterations in either of these conditions may produce serious neurological symptoms such as seizures or coma, according to Mayo Clinic.
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