Acute or chronic dehydration can cause serious short and long term health issues, and health experts say the condition is much more common than we think.

Following the recent announcement that all NHS patients must now have water available at all times to guard against dehydration, experts are urging everyone to find out about the health risks posed by dehydration and giving their advice on ways to stay healthily hydrated.

Experts have revealed that many of us are suffering from dehydration on a daily basis, potentially affecting the overall health of the nation, with the long-term dehydrated at risk of a range of health problems.

Dehydration can be of particular concern for those at opposite ends of the age spectrum, the young and elderly, who are reliant on teachers, parents or carers to look after their nutrition needs.

In a recent survey by the European Hydration Institute, 73% of Brits recognised that infants and children need water to grow and stay healthy, but nearly a third didn't know that dehydration can cause serious problems in older adults.

There is also widespread confusion over how much fluid we should be drinking and what types of fluids count towards our daily target.

So what are the signs of dehydration, what are the health implications of dehydration and besides water, what else can help hydrate you?

Watch the video below, where experts from The European Hydration Institute, which was set up to investigate the effects of hydration on health, wellness and performance, give the most up-to-date information on staying hydrated.