Dehydration Joint Pain - Muscle Pain

Dehydration is a condition where the body loses its fluids excessively due to various reasons like inadequate consumption of water, diarrhea, strenuous exercising, or sweating excessively. Due to this loss of water, the body cells use up water from the blood and body tissues causing many health complications like kidney stones, low blood pressure, constipation, fits, bulimia, heartburn, and even heart failure.

Side Effects of Dehydration

Another common side effect of dehydration is muscle pain and pain in the joints. Water comprises a major part of the cartilage in the body, which also includes the joints. The cartilage separates the surfaces of the bones and lubricates them so that they glide smoothly over each other. Because of dehydration, there is inadequate water to carry the nutrients to the cells causing the cells wear out. The blood tissues in the cartilage are also unable to repair the damaged cells thereby increasing abrasion in the bony surfaces, which eventually leads to inflammation of the joints (arthritis) causing excruciating pain to a person. Similarly, the disc core of the spinal vertebrae would store water to a volume that supports as much as 75 percent of the weight of the upper body. The water in this part lubricates the surfaces of the joints and also bears the force created by the weight as well as tension that the muscle actions in the joint produce. So, a lack of water can also cause a pain the lower back.

Prevent Dehydration

To prevent dehydration, one must drink about 10 glasses of water everyday, especially during summers, and increase the intake if exercising. To treat aching muscles and joints, you can soak in a bathtub of warm water mixed with 8 ounces of apple cider vinegar for about 20 minutes. Consuming chamomile tea also helps in treating inflammation, pain and cramps. One can also take one teaspoon fenugreek seeds powder (or soak one tablespoon fenugreek seeds in water overnight) and water in the morning to treat joints pain. Fenugreek seeds also treat dehydration other than alleviating pain. Other than water, you must also drink fruit juices as they have vitamins and minerals that effectively replenish the body. Another effective remedy for treating dehydration is mixing two teaspoons lime juice with a pinch of salt and 3 teaspoons sugar to a cup of water. Sip on this preparation to make up for the loss of water. Consuming yogurt and cottage cheese is also a good remedy as they replace sodium and potassium lost in dehydration.