The human brain is approximately 75% water and requires regular intake of water to stay hydrated and functioning. Health professionals often recommend drinking about two litres a water a day, dependent upon personal health circumstances.
Water is essential for good physical and mental health, and is necessary for numerous bodily functions, including cognitive functioning, hunger management, temperature regulation, cellular function, and waste removal.
How does hydration affect brain injury?
Following a brain injury, a person’s brain is more vulnerable to dehydration due to neurobiological changes, neurochemical imbalances, and physical issues prohibiting intake of fluids, such as a swallowing disorder or reduced arm and hand function to hold a cup and drink independently.
There are external factors which exacerbate dehydration, even if a person is able to access a regular intake of water. These can be heat, medications, diabetes, tiredness, vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
The impact of dehydration on a person with a brain injury is more rapid and has a more profound impact than those without a brain injury. They are more at risk of:
- losing balance/falling
- experiencing an increase in headaches and dizziness
- poor sleep and body temperature regulation.
It can also be extremely detrimental to a person’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning, leading to:
- reduced attention and concentration
- memory issues with confusion, emotional lability, and behavioural changes.
For some people, it can lead to a reduced level of consciousness and even trigger seizure activity.
How to keep hydrated
To maintain a hydrated brain to support good physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning, it is recommended that people drink two litres of water (health dependent) throughout the day, reduce caffeinated and sugary drinks, and avoid alcohol. A diet full of water dense foods such as fruit and vegetables is often advised by dietitians. Staying in the shade and drinking more if exercising, is also recommended to avoid brain dehydration. Check the colour of urine also, a hydrated body usually has urine the colour of pale lemon juice. Darker yellow and brown urine is a sign of dehydration.