Importance Of Staying Hydrated On The Road

You are once again on the road, for yet another long commute to work. Yet you are more tired that usual, and you are more irritable. You can’t wait to just get out of your car. It doesn’t help that all you have had to eat or drink this morning is black coffee. It’s making things worse that it feels like every person in front of you is driving 5 miles an hour and if it continues this way you are going to be late for work.  Yet there is a solution to your problem. It may not make the guy in front of you drive faster, but it may make you feel better about the commute. What is it? Simple. Drink water.

You are thinking, how is this going to help my commute? Well, as many people know, your body is made up of water. It is approximately 60 to 70 %.  Just like your car needs to maintain certain fluid levels (i.e. oil and water), so does your body. When your car's oil begins to get really low, your car doesn’t function as well. It is the same exact thing for your body. Except in the body, this deterioration happens more quickly. You can drive with low oil for a while, but your body is more sensitive. If your hydration (water) levels are 1% below what they should be your body is already affected. So drink water!   The symptoms of dehydration include groggyness, irritability, headaches, and lack of concentration. All of these can contribute to a disaster while on the road.

In addition, on a molecular level, your cells feel discomfort when water levels are low. As soon as this happens they signal to the central nervous system that something is wrong and this in turn can trigger an anxiety attack, which is not what you want when you are in a commute to an important meeting.

Furthermore, sitting in the car with circulated air, or even the A.C. on dries your mucosal lining of your ears, nose and throat; which are your primary defense for your immune system. If you drink water, it will keep them moist and keep you from getting sick!

Remember, your body functions at optimal levels if you are well hydrated. This  provides you with the most energy and the most focus in whatever your task may be, and will help control your irritability. This will make that commute to work more pleasant. Also remember that negative feelings cause stress on your body which hinders your immune system, and makes you more susceptible to sickness. If you are hydrated and not frustrated during your commute, you will contribute to your overall health.

However, do not wait till you are thirsty to drink water. Thirst is already a sign of dehydration. Try to drink water consistently, especially during your commute. Your life is in your own hands and so you want to make sure that you take the best care of it as possible. In this case it is ok to drink and drive!