Oxygen
Oxygen is essential for the body to perform basic life-sustaining functions. It allows your cells to breathe and produce energy from the food you consume. Without a steady supply of oxygen, organs quickly become damaged and bodily systems can shut down.
How Your Body Uses Oxygen
When you inhale, oxygen enters your lungs and diffuses into your bloodstream. It is carried to every cell in your body via red blood cells. Oxygen is used by your cells in the process of cellular respiration which produces energy molecules called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP provides the energy that powers all cellular processes.
Specifically, oxygen is required for:
- Energy production
- Converting food into usable energy
- Muscle and brain function
- Immune system health
- Breaking down toxic wastes and drugs
- Absorb nutrients from food
- Build DNA, hormones, neurotransmitters
Effects of Oxygen Deprivation
Since oxygen is so vital for cellular activities, any interruption in oxygen supply quickly starves organs of energy. Lack of oxygen leads to:
- Brain dysfunction, confusion, loss of consciousness
- Heart and respiratory failure
- Liver and kidney damage
- Insufficient energy for muscles
- Cell death
After just a few minutes without oxygen, brain cells begin dying. After 20-30 minutes, severe organ damage occurs. Oxygen deprivation ultimately results in coma and death.
Water
Water makes up over 50% of your body weight. It is required for nearly every essential bodily process and function. Dehydration sets off a cascade of problems and can become life-threatening.
How Your Body Uses Water
The trillions of cells in your body depend on water to:
- Transport oxygen, nutrients and hormones
- Cushion joints and organs
- Maintain body temperature
- Digest food
- Metabolize medications
- Eliminate wastes through urine, sweat, feces
- Moisten oxygen for breathing
- Form saliva
Water makes up the majority of your blood, which circulates these essential substances to tissues. It also ensures your muscles and brain function properly through hydration.
Effects of Dehydration
As you become dehydrated, you may experience:
- Dizziness, confusion, fatigue
- Muscle cramps and weakness
- Heart palpitations
- Heat injury or heat stroke
- Impaired cognition and coordination
- Reduced physical performance
- Headaches, electrolyte imbalance
Prolonged dehydration alters electrolyte levels and can damage organs including the brain, heart and kidneys. Extreme water loss leads to shock, organ failure, and death.
Food
Consuming a regular balanced diet provides the basic fuel and nutrients your body requires to perform all its functions. Without adequate food intake, the body breaks down its own stores resulting in starvation.
How Your Body Uses Food
The macronutrients obtained from food enable your body to:
- Carbohydrates - Main source of energy and fuel for cells and organs
- Protein - Build and repair muscle, bone, skin and organs
- Fat - Absorb vitamins, insulate and pad organs, form cell membranes
Vitamins and minerals from food allow your body to carry out hundreds of essential chemical reactions like:
- Vitamin C - Make collagen, absorb iron, support immunity
- Calcium - Build strong bones and teeth, clot blood
- Potassium - Regulate fluid balance, heart and nerve signals
- Iron - Carry oxygen in blood to organs and tissues
Effects of Starvation
During starvation, the body switches to breaking down its own fat, muscle and tissue reserves. This leads to:
- Weight loss, muscle wasting
- Fatigue, weakness
- Organ shrinkage like brain, heart, liver
- Growth impairment
- Poor wound healing
- Hair loss
- Hormone disruption
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Multi-organ failure
Prolonged starvation causes long-term damage and eventually death once the body's resources are depleted. Even short-term starvation can be fatal in certain vulnerable populations.
In summary, the three essential things your body absolutely cannot live without are oxygen, water and food. Depriving the body entirely of any one of these key elements leads to impaired bodily functions, organ damage and ultimately death.
FAQs
Why is oxygen essential for the human body?
Oxygen allows cells to respire and produce energy. It is required for basic functions like energy production, nutrient absorption, waste removal, DNA building and muscle/brain activity.
What happens if the body is deprived of water?
Dehydration causes dizziness, cramping, impaired cognition, electrolyte imbalance, poor temperature regulation, headache and organ damage.
How are carbohydrates, proteins and fats used by the body?
Carbs provide energy and fuel, protein builds and repairs tissues and organs, fats insulate organs, absorb vitamins, and form cell membranes.
What are signs of starvation in the human body?
Starvation leads to fatigue, weight loss, muscle wasting, organ shrinkage, hormone disruption, poor wound healing, electrolyte imbalance, and multi-organ failure.
How long can the human body survive without food?
Survival time depends on factors like body fat and water intake. Generally death occurs after 8-12 weeks without food as the body's resources become depleted.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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