A pint in the morning

When I explained what my sensations were before falling, the doctor asked follow-up questions and said I should drink more water.  It isn't exactly clear how much water a person of my age, sex, activity level should drink.  I have read that as people age, they lose some of their ability to sense thirst.  So, that avenue is often not available.  There is a well-known idea that one should drink 8 eight oz. glasses a day but needs are now said to be more individual than that.  Since the human body tries to keep the right temperature and uses evaporation (sweating) to handle heat surplus, the amount of humidity already in the air and the surrounding temperature have important effects on the body's use of water.

The book "Quench" by Cohen and Bria looks at the question of human thirst and adequate water consumption.  Cohen is a physician and Bria has studied desert peoples' habits and is an officer of the Hydration Foundation.  The book emphasizes the importance of water in fruits and vegetables and not just liquid water swallowed.