Contents I. Introduction
Water is crucial in all vital physiological processes [1]. Therefore, adequate fluid intake and maintenance of total body water (TBW) homeostasis are critical to maintaining proper physiological function and human well-being. During a 24-hour period, the human body generally regulates the water balance within 0.2% of body weight [2]. Disruption of this water balance, whether induced by an individuals' surrounding environment or rooted in some underlying physiological con-dition, instigates dehydration. Dehydration is characterized by a deficit in TBW and is commonly caused by inadequate fluid intake, excessive sweating, vomiting, and/or diarrhea [2]. The extent of dehydration is commonly described in terms of the percent change in body weight [3]. Life-threatening symptoms, such as altered respiratory activity or various conditions that affect the cardiovascular system (e.g., low blood pressure, elevated heart rate), begin when body weight loss is as low as 1-2%, and become prominent at 3-5% [4]. For example, dehydration can induce hypovolemia, characterized by a state of decreased blood volume that leads to decreased blood pressure and stroke volume. In response, the body increases the heart rate to maintain a constant cardiac output [5]. Dehydration also compromises the body's ability to regulate temperature due to a decrease in sweating and blood flow to the skin, increasing the risk of developing heat-related injuries such as muscle cramps, fatigue, or heatstroke [6].
