To Your Health
A Health Quiz About Water

by Paulette Avery, R.N., M.S.N.

You know, of course, that without water we can t live. But how much do you know about the other ways water affects our health? Take this quiz to find out.

1. Experts recommend we drink at least how much water each day?

a. one quart

b. two quarts

c. a gallon

d. enough to satisfy your thirst

Answer: b. Two quarts of water is considered the minimum needed to maintain your body s basic needs. When it is very hot or you are exercising, your need for water increases. Relying on thirst is not a good guideline, as often by the time we notice we are thirsty, we are already dehydrated.

2. For best results, you should drink water at what point when you are exercising?

a. before

b. after

c. during

d. all of the above

Answer: d. All of the above. Drink a glass of water before you begin exercising, and sip some about every ten minutes during exercise. Follow up with another glass or two when you finish your activity.

3. Drinking eleven glasses of fluid a day can decrease a man s risk for bladder cancer.

a. true

b. false

Answer: a. True. According to new research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, men who drank at least six glasses of water had half the risk of developing bladder cancer as those who drank one glass a day, regardless of what else they drank.

4. If you drink plenty of coffee, tea, and cola, your need for water is decreased.

a. true

b. false

Answer: b. False. Coffee, tea, and cola all contain caffeine, which is a mild diuretic. As a result, you need to drink more water.

5. Thirst sometimes masquerades as hunger.

a. true

b. false

Answer: a. True. You may misinterpret some signs of thirst as a signal to eat. Or your body may signal hunger in an attempt to get more water from the food you eat. Next time you are hungry between meals, try drinking a glass of water instead of eating a snack.

6. Our need for water decreases with age.

a. true

b. false

Answer: b. False. The need for water often increases with age, especially if you are taking medications with a diuretic effect. Drinking more water will also help treat constipation, a common complaint as we age. Unfortunately, the mechanism controlling thirst often weakens as we get older, making us less aware of our need for water. To counteract this problem, getin the habit of drinking eight glasses a day.

Whether you drink water from the tap or buy bottled water, be sure you get plenty of it. Adequate amounts of water improve health by helping to regulate body temperature, remove wastes, cushion our joints, moisten the oxygen we breathe, and contributing to many other essential functions. Most of us need to consciously think about drinking enough water to get what we need. You don t need to get fanatical about it, but putting some effort into drinking several glasses a day is a healthy idea.

Paulette Avery is a registered nurse and a freelance writer specializing in health issues.