Dehydration is the loss of water content and essential body salts, or electrolytes, which the body requires to work properly. The human body is composed of 25 percent solids and 75 percent water. Brain tissue actually consists of 85 percent water. Three out of four Americans are chronically dehydrated and 37 percent of American's thirst mechanism is so weak that it's often mistaken for hunger. There are three types of dehydration.
Mild dehydration is when there is a fluid loss of five percent from the body.
It can slow down a body's metabolism by as much as three percent. This is not very dangerous and often can be cured by re-hydration Moderate dehydration sets in when there is a 10 percent loss of body fluid. This poses a greater risk and immediate steps should be taken. Severe dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency and could even require hospitalization. This happens whenever 15 percent of a person's body fluid is lost.