Hydration

 

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Important Factors In Relieving Back Pain Are:

 

¨ Increase water intake

¨ Specific exercises to enhance the uptake of water into disc space through a vacuum effect

¨ Correct posture

¨ Regular visits to your chiropractor

 

  Neck pain is also exacerbated by dehydration and poor posture.  Adequate hydration and exercises will help establish adequate circulation and a vacuum within the disc spaces.

 

Dyspeptic Pain

 

  Dyspeptic pain is indicative of dehydration and is a thirst signal.  More specifically, gastritis pain, duodenitis, and heartburn are important signals of dehydration in the body.  Ulcers however, require more rigid dietary management in addition to water intake.

  Research has shown that if we drink a glassful of water, it is immediately transported to the intestine and absorbed.  Within 30 minutes the same quantity of water is secreted in the mucosal glandular layer of the stomach ready to aid digestion.  Adequate digestion is dependent upon adequate amounts of water.  The glandular layer of the stomach is normally covered in mucus.  Mucus consists of 98 percent water and 2 percent the physical “scaffolding” that traps water.  This protects the inner lining of the stomach by acting as a natural buffer state.  An important part of this buffer system is sodium bicarbonate that is secreted by the cells below the mucous layer.  Sodium bicarbonate becomes trapped in the water layer.  This protects the stomach from acid production by effectively neutralizing it.  The result of this natural biochemical reaction is an increased salt production (sodium from the bicarb and chlorine from the acid).  Excess sodium changes the water-holding properties of the “scaffolding” material of mucous.

  Too much acid neutralization and deposition of sodium in the mucus layer would make it less homogeneous and will allow penetration to the mucosal layer resulting dyspeptic pain.

  The re-secretion of water through the mucus layer appears to exert a “back-washing effect” on the mucus layer removing the salt deposits.  The effectiveness of this phenomenon of course is dependent upon the intake of water.  ( As a note of caution, pains that do not respond to an increased water intake over a period of time could be the result of a serious pathological condition.  It would be prudent to consult your physician for assessment of the condition).  Other conditions responding well to proper hydration are, Colitis and false appendicitis pain.  Rheumatoid Arthritis pains can initially be considered indicators of a lack of adequate hydration in the affected joint cartilage surfaces.  The cartilage surfaces of bones in a joint contain much water.  This “held water” provides a lubricating quality.  A well-hydrated joint obtains it’s nutrition from the blood supply to its base attachment to the bone.  A dehydrated joint will get some form of fluid circulation from the capsule of the joint, producing swelling and tenderness in the joint capsule.

 

Water Intake Recommendations:

 

You should drink 1 quart of purified water per 50 pounds of body weight

References: Paul Harris, PhD