10 Dehydration Symptoms.
Dehydration, or hypohydration, is a condition, wherein the loss of fluids like water exceeds
fluid intake.
Even a minor change in the fluid concentrations can result in dehydration.
It is, therefore, necessary you drink H2O as you lose it, else you will become dehydrated.
When dehydrated, the human body does not function at its best and may be at risk for potentially
life-threatening diseases.
Some of the common causes of dehydration are fever, immense sweating during intense workout
mainly during the summers, and diarrhea.
Anyone may experience from dehydration, but older people and young children are most susceptible
to this condition.
Dehydration is likely to cause many signs and symptoms that range from moderate to severe.
Thankfully, your body will let you know if it happens.
1.
Bad Breath.
Your breath may be telling you that your body is running extremely low on water content.
Saliva has antibacterial properties, but lack of hydration can deter your body from producing
enough of it.
With your body not making enough saliva in the mouth, bacterial overgrowth is most likely
to happen, and as a side effect, lousy breath becomes apparent.
So, as and when your tongue becomes a bit swollen and the mouth dries out, drink water.
In 9 out of 10 cases, the cause for bad breath is dehydration.
2.
Extra Yellow Pee.
Sounds gross, right?
But this is true.
Unfortunately, thirst is not just the only parameter signaling that the body is crying
out for water, primarily in children.
There is a better indicator, i.e., the color of urine.
When you are adequately hydrated, your body discharges clear urine with a tinge of yellow.
However, concentrated, dark urine is a telling sign of dehydration.
With the body losing 3% water, urine becomes prominently yellow.
With the body losing 5% water, urine is chardonnay-colored.
However, with the body losing over 5% it is considered severe dehydration and urine are
orange in color.
3.
A Headache.
With the body losing water, essential salts, such as potassium and sodium also get lost,
which ultimately alters the chemical makeup of the blood.
The loss of water in the brain tissues causes the brain to shrink and move away from the
skull triggering a reaction in the pain receptors located in the meninges.
The severity of headaches depends on the amount of water you lose.
Loss of too much water from the body means a severe problem as the blood volume drops
proportionally.
4.
Fatigue Sets In.
Researchers have proved that when athletes become exhausted, the primary cause is dehydration
and not muscle fatigue.
This condition is also true for regular people with average physical activity.
Without the right amount of water, your body can experience muscle soreness, thereby making
you feel less motivated for any action.
A 10% performance level drop is quite reasonable in people dealing with dehydration.
Therefore, one must stay hydrated throughout the day to optimize performance.
Doctors recommend ample rest along with ample of fluid intake to replenish lost water content.
5.
No More Tears.
If you are crying and tears are not coming out, then it is a clear indicator of the fact
that you are dehydrated.
Children who are not adequately hydrated also cry without producing any tears.
Lack of wet diapers can also be a sign of your child dealing with dehydration.
It is just not healthy for a toddler to have a dry diaper for more than 3 hours.
Individuals can also notice dry mucous membrane, i.e., the tongue and mouth will become exceptionally
dry.
The eyes won’t just lose tears but will appear a bit sunken as well.
6.
Loss of Elasticity.
If you are well-hydrated, your skin will snap back to normal when pinched inside.
The ones who are dehydrated have a compromised turgor, which means the skin remains elevated
and returns to normal slowly.
So, you must stay hydrated to prevent sagging of skin.
Typically, all doctors carry out a turgor test to confirm if a patient is hydrated or
not.
Lost elasticity is a clear indicator of the fact that the person is dehydrated.
7.
Body Overheats.
Fluids play a vital role in body temperature regulation; it is a fact that the risk of
developing heat stroke, due to sudden exposure to hot weather, is increased in dehydrated
individuals.
Moreover, you must remember that thirst can be mistaken for hunger.
A good rule is first to drink water if you think that you need to eat as in reality,
your body might be lacking water.
Typically, the body overheats after physical exertion, and profuse sweating occurs.
This action can cause dehydration; therefore, it is crucial for you to drink extra water.
8.
Muscle Cramps and Spasms.
It is crucial for men as well as women, to remain hydrated as they indulge in the hardcore
activity of muscles.
Imbalance of electrolytes in the body affects the muscle function.
Sodium and potassium are the electrolytes which help our muscles to contract, and dehydration
can cause an imbalance in these ions, thereby resulting in muscle spasm.
In some cases, muscle spasms can even result in muscle cramps with the muscles contracting
for a more extended period.
Typically, muscle cramping caused by dehydration occurs in the calf or sides, which can be
extremely painful.
However, the symptom can be eased by drinking plenty of water and remaining hydrated.
9.
Constipation.
Water is vital for healthy bowel movement as it encourages digestion.
It moves the food you eat forward and processes the waste out through strong bowel movement.
Apart from this, water makes the intestinal walls soft and malleable.
That is the prime reason that when you do not drink enough water, the colon loses it
flexibility and the stool you pass out becomes hard and painful.
Chronic dehydration indeed is often responsible for chronic constipation.
With your body not getting enough water, the colon absorbs water from the food waste, which
is the reason for dry stool.
10.
Lightheadedness.
Lightheadedness and dizziness are associated with dehydration when low blood pressure and
electrolyte imbalance are severe enough.
Kids and toddlers experiencing dehydration tend to be fussy and irritable.
In extreme cases, dehydration results in mental confusion and even loss of consciousness.
If you experience any of these symptoms of dehydration, seek medical help.