When your body loses too much fluid, mostly water, more than the amounts you are taking in, you get dehydrated. There can be many reasons behind dehydration. Diarrhea, sweating, vomiting, excessive exercise and not drinking enough water are just few such reasons. Diarrhea can be dangerous, especially in babies, older adults and infants. It can make you feel dizzy, lethargic and weak. Water is a very important fluid for our body and who will better understand this than a person who has suffered heatstroke on a hot, blazing summer day. Knowing the signs of dehydration can help you in understanding that its time to seek medical help. Keeping yourself hydrated is a very important part of your fitness regimen and healthy eating. So, to know what these signs are, read on:
The last sign on this list of signs of dehydration tells that when dehydrated you are tend to feel tired more quickly and easily than before. Dehydration can lead to a drop in your blood volume and your blood pressure; this can further contribute in lowering the oxygen supply to tissues. In the absence of sufficient oxygen, our nervous system and muscles start working slowly which means we start feeling tired more easily and quickly than usual. It may sound silly, but when dehydrated you may have dry eyes, which means you will have no tears if your body is dehydrated, this is just one of your body’s many ways to conserve water. So, the next time you see someone crying without any tears it means they are dehydrated (just kidding). So, in order to keep the energy meter up and the tear production going, stay hydrated.
When dehydrated, you may stop sweating; this is what the ninth sign of dehydration indicates. Water is a very important component that plays a vital role in regulating our body temperature. We usually sweat when our body gets overheated which may appear an after effect of outside heat, excessive exercising or strenuous work. Just to maintain our body temperature at normal limit our body starts producing sweat, this is what happens when our body is properly hydrated. But, what happens when you are dehydrated? When the supply of fluid in our body gets insufficient then the body stops producing sweat and thus feels the heat. Avoid this from happening, keep a bottle of electrolyte handy, especially when moving out in the hot sun or when hitting the gym.
The eight sign of dehydration is that it can cause a drop in your blood pressure. When normal, the water from the cells of our body moves into the bloodstream in order to maintain the proper blood volume and blood pressure in our body. When dehydrated, there is a sudden drop in the blood volume and in turn the blood pressure also lowers. This may further lead to dropping of the oxygen content of our blood. When there is insufficient supply of oxygen it can lead to fatigued muscles and improper function of our nervous system. Loss of just 1 to 2% of our body fluid can trigger this problem. So, drink enough water to keep your blood pressure balanced.
Dehydration can make you feel weak, lethargic and dizzy; this is the seventh sign on the list of top ten signs on dehydration. Drop in the blood pressure and blood volume can lead to a feeling of lightheadedness, and it can even make you dizzy and unconscious. Referred as orthostatic hypertension, this is felt when you feel a sudden rush of lightheadedness when you stand up suddenly and can even lead to the body losing balance. You feel that your body is floating and has turned weightless when you just get up from sitting or sleeping quickly. Having continuous supply of fluid, especially water, thus seems quintessential to prevent this from happening. Your body gets just 75% of fluid from what you drink, but the rest comes from fruits, vegetables and other poultry products. So, include all this in your everyday routine to prevent from facing conditions like fainting and dizziness.
Muscle cramping and spasms is a painful condition which is ranked sixth on the top ten signs of dehydration. This has not yet been proven, but dehydration is thought to have been linked with affect on muscle function in our body. When dehydrated, there is imbalance in the electrolyte in the body which can cause muscle spasms and cramps. Sodium and potassium, the two electrolytes, are electrically charged that help the muscles in working properly. When an imbalance occurs it can lead to contraction and cramping of muscles. Muscle cramps are a very common problem and is often associated with a lot of pain, but the condition worsens if your body is suffering from dehydration. To stay away from this painful condition start keeping your body hydrated and increase your fluid intake.
The fifth sign of dehydration, it says that dehydration can cause your heart to palpitate. The heart, which is the central organ of our body, needs a healthy balance and environment to function at its best. When your body gets dehydrated the blood flow decreases and there are changes in the levels of electrolyte. This can usually cause your heart to pound. Like all the muscles in your body, your heart too requires proper blood flow and not drinking enough water can easily lead to this condition. Dehydration can cause your heart to palpitate, so avoid drinks like coffee and alcohol in excessive amount, which can cause dehydration and start taking water as this is a universal fuel and it’s what your body’s fluid tank needs to stay healthy and balanced from within.
The fourth symptom that is a common sign of dehydration is the loss in elasticity of skin. The skin is normally elastic, but when your body is suffering from dehydration the skin becomes less elastic. A doctor can easily know this by checking through pinching. You can check it for yourself by pinching and then releasing the skin on the back of your hand. Under normal conditions the pinched skin returns to normal quickly, but when dehydrated it takes longer time than usual. This may not seem the best sign of dehydration, but is surely an indicator that your body is dehydrated and its time you offer it enough fluid and mostly in the form of pure water.
The third most common symptom that can help you know your body is dehydrated is that you feel constipated and feel difficulty in passing stool easily. When we are healthy and our body is well hydrated the food we eat moves feely through our intestine. The colon does its function of absorption optimally by absorbing water and eliminating waste from the body. The waste forms the stool. But when dehydrated, the colon tries to conserve the water, as it’s already less, and starts absorbing water from our food thus making the stools turn harder and dry. This finally leads to constipation which can sometimes turn into a very painful, irritating and embarrassing situation. In order to save you from getting trapped in such a situation, start drinking enough water every day.
Unfortunately thirst and dry mouth is not the reliable parameters to understand the body’s need for water, especially in infants and older people. The color of urine can help in knowing this better; this is also known as the second most common symptom associated with dehydration. . Dark colored urine often indicates dehydration and shows your body’s signal that it needs water immediately. When the water in our body gets less, kidneys start conserving the same and thus stop the production of urine leading to less urine output. When a person secretes less than 500 ml of urine in one full day it’s more than just dehydration and it becomes imperative to consult a doctor without any further delay. Increasing the intake of salt and sugar or having fruit juice can help in restoring the lost electrolyte. So, when you face this problem try drinking a glass of juice or eating a snack which is slightly saltier than usual.
Drying of mouth and swollen tongue are the very first symptoms of dehydration. It’s a sign that your body is craving for water. So, stop ignoring the sign and drink some fluid, if possible just water. Drinking water whenever you are thirsty can decrease your chances of feeling dehydrated, so follow this rule always. When dehydrated you will feel that your mouth is drying and you need water at the earliest. If drinking enough water does not solve the problem, beware the problem is something else. To avoid facing dehydration, start drinking enough water and especially when you feel thirsty.
Dehydration is a very common problem that can strike any person at anytime. But, it’s important to understand when the condition has worsened and seeking medical help is a must. Just when the above signs start aggravating; it’s best to consult a doctor and without making any delay. Dehydration can be described as mild, moderate or severe depending upon the amount of fluid your body has lost. So, try understanding your situation before coming to any conclusion. In the end, ‘prevention is always better than cure’, so keep the fluid intake normal to erase the possibility of dehydration in the first place itself.
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