The reason why you don't feel thirsty in winter is affecting your health

 The reason why you don't feel thirsty in winter is affecting your health

 

Due to the intense heat in the summer, we often carry a bottle of water with us even outside the house so that we can quench our thirst when needed.

But as soon as the winter season arrives, this habit of ours ends and we move away from this bottle of water. At that time, we like to drink tea or coffee wrapped in a warm blanket and forget about water altogether.

Have you ever wondered where our thirst disappears as soon as winter begins?

Doctors say that the body's need for water does not decrease even in the cold season, but sometimes it increases. But then why do we feel less thirsty in the winter?

Drinking less water can also put you at risk of several diseases. The BBC spoke to some doctors to get information about these diseases.

Just like in summer, the body needs water in winter too. Dr. Paulin Kumar Gupta, associated with Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, says, "Since we do not sweat in winter, we have a misconception that our body does not need water. Especially our elderly and people who work outside drink less water due to laziness, thinking that drinking more will make them have to go to the toilet more often." The body needs water in winter and this is also proven by science: In winter, the kidneys excrete more water through urine. Heaters or dryers running in offices and homes have been losing water from the body through the skin and breath. We may not see the sweat that comes from wearing warm clothes, but it also reduces the water in the body. This can also cause dehydration. According to a 2019 study by the American Heart Association, dehydration can lead to kidney disease, stones, or urinary tract infections.

Why is thirst less in winter?

Medical expert Divya Prakash says, “When it is cold, the body constricts the veins inside it and absorbs heat. Due to this process, all the attention of blood flow remains only in the central part of the body.”

“As a result, the brain gets a signal that there is no shortage of water in the body.”

According to Divya: “During this time, thirst is reduced by 40 percent. But the fact is that the body always needs two and a half to three and a half liters of water.”

Disadvantages of drinking less water

Dr. Paulan Kumar Gupta says that 60 percent of the body is made up of water and oxygen and nutrients reach its cells through blood.

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Can a person die from heart disease even if the ECG report is correct?

Dr. Paulin Kumar Gupta says:

When the body is dehydrated, the blood thickens and it becomes difficult for the heart to pump it. This increases blood pressure and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Due to dehydration, the digestive system can also slow down, which can cause constipation or indigestion.

Due to dehydration, symptoms of fatigue, headache, heaviness or anxiety can also arise in the body, the main cause of which is dehydration. Cholesterol levels can also increase due to dehydration.

Whose health is at greater risk?

Dr. Anu Agarwal, associated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, says that ‘Our body shows symptoms of dehydration in the form of fatigue, weakness or anxiety.

Women undergo hormonal changes between the ages of 15 and 40. The risk of dehydration increases during menstruation, which can increase abdominal pain or gas-related complaints.

Dehydration affects the performance of hormones like estrogen and thyroid, which can cause mood swings or irregular periods.

How much water should you drink in winter?

Dr. Anu Agarwal advises that you should drink 10 to 12 glasses of water even in winter.

Drink two to four glasses of water within two to three hours of waking up in the morning.

To avoid the need to urinate at night, drink most of the water your body needs by 5 pm.

Divya Prakash says that do not drink tea or coffee instead of water. Instead of drinking very hot water, drink lukewarm water, which can be absorbed quickly into your body cells.