World Water Day
Thousands can live without love, not one without water- W.H. Auden.
Did you know? Our bodies comprise 60% water, and our Earth is composed of 71% water! Yes, you heard it right. Water is a predominant and chief source everywhere, making it crucial for life. But we often forget to conserve and save water, which leads to water scarcity all over the world. Today, we are going to explore World Water Day and its significance in this blog. Continue to read for more information!
World Water Day: History And Significance
Every year, World Water Day is celebrated on the 22nd of March, which was designated to raise awareness about the management of freshwater resources in our world. The United Nations (UN) designated the world water day in 1993, which was recommended at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This year, World Water Day is celebrated with the theme Water for Peace, which emphasizes cooperation on the water to create and spread positivity worldwide.
Why Should We Conserve Water?
Even though enormous amounts of water surround us, approximately 4 billion people worldwide experience severe scarcity every month. It is estimated that 2 billion people live in areas with insufficient water. This can lead to extreme water stress, especially in places where one in four children is projected to live by the year 2040. This shows how important it is to conserve water all over the world.
Role Of Water In Human Health
Water is an essential source for the overall well-being of the individual, which plays a vital role in various aspects, which are given below:
Hydration:
Water helps us keep hydrated and prevents dehydration, which can cause unclear thinking, mood changes, constipation, and kidney stones in individuals. Various health conditions like diabetes, diarrhea, excessive alcohol consumption, and diuretic medication can also cause this.
Nutrient Transport:
It helps dissolve substances like nutrients, minerals, and biomolecules (protein and carbohydrates) for cell use. The water's sticky nature helps transport the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein in the bloodstream, ensuring proper nutritional transport throughout the body.
Metabolic Reactions:
It is crucial for the metabolism of stored fat in our body. It is estimated that drinking 500ml of water helps to elevate the metabolic rate by 30% in individuals. Thus, it is recommended to drink plenty of water for weight management.
Joint Lubrication:
Water helps to provide lubrication in the joints and cartilage in our body. Dehydration can cause joint pain due to the loss of lubrication in the joints. It is estimated that drinking water with high concentrations of hydrogen molecules can help to reduce oxidative stress in rheumatoid patients. It also helps in protecting the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues in the body.
Waste Removal:
It aids in removing waste or unwanted substances from our bodies. Drinking sufficient water helps the kidneys and liver excrete waste through perspiration (sweating), urination, and defecation (excretion).
Blood and cell:
Drinking steady and consistent water may alleviate anemia in individuals. It may also reduce cardiovascular risk by decreasing platelet activation and highly sensitive C-reactive protein concentration. In cells, it helps in osmoregulation and maintenance of cell turgidity (cell swelling).
Skin health:
It is estimated that drinking adequate water, a proper diet, and a skincare routine can help maintain healthy and youthful skin.
Water And Related Health Issues
Drinking clean, contaminant-free water is of equal importance to drinking an adequate amount of water. It is estimated that drinking contaminated water can cause cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio in individuals, and the intake of harsh chemical water can lead to chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer.
It is estimated that over 1.7 billion people globally has been exposed to the contaminated (fecal) drinking water in 2020, which shows the scarcity of drinking water worldwide.
World Water Day 2024 activities!
- Drink at least 2-3 liters of water.
- Boil the water before you drink.
- Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol (can cause dehydration)
- Try to save rainwater
- Don't pollute the water
- Community river programmes
- Conduct educational seminars
- Conduct water conservation campaigns
WASH (Water, sanitation, and hygiene)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided a WASH program to save lives and reduce illness by promoting global access to healthy and safe water, adequate sanitation, and improved hygiene worldwide. This program helps in improving health, reducing poverty, and socio-economic development.
Wrap It Up!
Water is not only a source of energy but also a part of life. We need to learn the techniques to save water for our future generation. Water plays an essential role in maintaining overall health and also in the environment. Every drop matters and every step toward water conservation will pay off tomorrow. Remember to give importance to the water, which will protect our health and environment. On this World Water Day, Let's take a step to save water and lives!
