Prompts Drink 8 Glasses Suitable for Tropics

A recent report written in the British Medical Journal explains that there is no evidence that drinking lots of water can prevent some health problems and the threat of dehydration.

Even a number of health professionals in the UK claim, the recommendation to drink eight glasses of water a day as saying that it could be mistaken and even dangerous.

Responding to the report, a specialist in internal medicine of the Hospital Dr. Mitra Kemayoran Jakarta. Chandra Wibowo, Sp.PD stated that claims about the need for water can indeed be a very relative. But according to him, the recommendation to drink eight glasses of water a day (about 1500-2000 cc) is right, and in accordance with community needs, especially in tropical regions like Indonesia.

"If it is not also a myth. Recommendation to drink eight glasses a day is still acceptable scholarly, "he said, when met at the office, Monday (07/18/2011).

Candra view, which should be underlined related to the results of these studies is that research conducted in Europe, not in the tropics. As is known, the weather in Europe is much colder countries than Indonesia, so it is natural if the study claiming the recommendation to drink eight glasses of water a day as a wrong.

"In areas of Europe may differ from the tropics. In essence, drink it in moderation," he added.

Further Chandra explained, basically kidney in every human body has otoregulasi (automatic settings). So, when we are thirsty, water shortage, the agency will give negative feedback to the brain, thus encouraging us to drink.

Vice versa, if we are quite fluid in the body, we will not feel thirsty. In fact, the kidneys will automatically remove excess water from the body through urine.

Unconsciously, every time humans will lose fluids due to evaporation (evaporation). Candra said evaporation can occur when people breathe, talk, sweating, urination (urinating) and defecation, so it takes the fluid into the body to replace it.

He added, is something very simple to measure and find out if someone is enough or do not consume water per day.

"Parameters, we see the urine. If the color is like a tea (yellow opaque) we are less liquid. But when it's yellow nodes, is sufficient. No need to drink too much," he explained.

Fluid needs of each person are generally different. According to Chandra, on the basis of age, a child needs more fluids than adults and the elderly. In children, the water needs of 20-25 cc per kg body weight per day, adults 15 cc per kg of body weight per day, while parents 10 cc per kg of body weight per day.

Candra also warned not to consume water in excess amounts. The reason, drinking excessive water makes your kidneys are not healthy, it will actually make the kidneys work to be heavy.

In some studies, Chandra points out, if we drank more than 2810 cc of water per day, in a continuous consumption will ultimately undermine and decrease kidney function.

"I agree with the myth which says a lot of unhealthy drinking water. I always say to my patients to drink a lot of it can reduce kidney function because of filtration the more often," he explained.

One result of excess intake of water in the body of which is can make a person become unconscious due to brain swelling. This is according to him, due to the sodium content in the blood is reduced because more water (Homeostasis). But Chandra says, this only happens to people who have kidney disorders or psychogenic.

"So if it's too much to drink is also not good. In principle we should not eat and drink the excess. Because everything is more certain is not good," he said.