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=== Introduction ===

== Introduction ==

‘Water is not necessary to life but rather life itself’ – This quotation describes importance of water in our life. Water is the most abundant constituent in the body, comprising approximately 50% of body weight in women and 60% in men.<ref> Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, et al., editors. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine.,  Chapter 46, Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances, Sodium and Water, 16th ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2005.</ref> It is crucial for survival as it performs various functions. It transports nutrients to the tissues, removes metabolic waste products, detoxifies body elements, regulates body temperature, maintains pH, electrolyte balance etc. and homeostasis of body. In normal physiological process, certain amount of fluid is lost continuously. If this fluid balance is not maintained then, both acute and chronic fluid deficits may lead to number of adverse health outcomes. Even modest fluid deficits may precipitate adverse events, especially in young children, in the frail elderly and in those with poor health.<ref>Maughan RJ., Hydration, morbidity, and mortality in vulnerable populations, Nutr Rev. 2012 Nov;70 Suppl 2:S152-5.</ref> Fluid balance in body is maintained via thirst, a feedback-controlled variable, regulated acutely by central and peripheral mechanisms.<ref>Millard-Stafford M, Wendland DM, O'Dea NK, Norman TL, Thirst and hydration status in everyday life. Nutr Rev. 2012 Nov;70 Suppl 2:S147-51</ref> Thirst is physiological but when it exceeds its threshold it becomes pathological and is common in many diseases. Modern science accepts it as symptom only and have not given it as an entity of ‘disease’. [[Ayurveda]] is more comprehensive and broader in its approach. Fluid imbalance is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and considering this fact ‘thirst’ which is an indicator of fluid imbalance has been described as separate disease and not merely a symptom.

‘Water is not necessary to life but rather life itself’ – This quotation describes importance of water in our life. Water is the most abundant constituent in the body, comprising approximately 50% of body weight in women and 60% in men.<ref> Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, et al., editors. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine.,  Chapter 46, Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances, Sodium and Water, 16th ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2005.</ref> It is crucial for survival as it performs various functions. It transports nutrients to the tissues, removes metabolic waste products, detoxifies body elements, regulates body temperature, maintains pH, electrolyte balance etc. and homeostasis of body. In normal physiological process, certain amount of fluid is lost continuously. If this fluid balance is not maintained then, both acute and chronic fluid deficits may lead to number of adverse health outcomes. Even modest fluid deficits may precipitate adverse events, especially in young children, in the frail elderly and in those with poor health.<ref>Maughan RJ., Hydration, morbidity, and mortality in vulnerable populations, Nutr Rev. 2012 Nov;70 Suppl 2:S152-5.</ref> Fluid balance in body is maintained via thirst, a feedback-controlled variable, regulated acutely by central and peripheral mechanisms.<ref>Millard-Stafford M, Wendland DM, O'Dea NK, Norman TL, Thirst and hydration status in everyday life. Nutr Rev. 2012 Nov;70 Suppl 2:S147-51</ref> Thirst is physiological but when it exceeds its threshold it becomes pathological and is common in many diseases. Modern science accepts it as symptom only and have not given it as an entity of ‘disease’. [[Ayurveda]] is more comprehensive and broader in its approach. Fluid imbalance is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and considering this fact ‘thirst’ which is an indicator of fluid imbalance has been described as separate disease and not merely a symptom.