Up to 78% of your body consists of water. Your brain contains 73% water, and your heart is made up of the same percentage. Your bones hold 31% water, while your muscles and kidneys are composed of 79% water. Additionally, your skin contains 64% water, and an impressive 83% of your lungs are made of water.
On a hot day like today, you might feel particularly thirsty. It is essential to grab a tall glass of water, especially since you may already be experiencing early signs of dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when your body lacks sufficient water. To prevent it, it is best to hydrate before you start feeling thirsty. If you are thirsty, that indicates you are already mildly dehydrated, which can lead to symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and more. Severe dehydration can even lead to serious health risks like heatstroke.
lets take a listen to know more about hydration tips or the effects of dehydration.
When you are not properly hydrated, your bodys natural response is thirst. You should respond to thirst right away by drinking fluids — preferably water. You can usually treat mild dehydration by drinking more fluids. But dehydration is not always easy to spot. It can be found in the aging parent who forgets to drink water or the fussy baby who can not tell you they are thirsty. Make sure to keep your loved ones hydrated. If you or a loved one has a moderate to severe case of dehydration, you may need to go to the hospital to get IV fluids. Left untreated, severe dehydration can be fatal.
Water helps:
- Aid digestion and get rid of waste.
- Your joints work. Water lubricates them.
- Make saliva (which you need to eat).
- Balance your bodys chemicals. Your brain needs it to create hormones and neurotransmitters.
- Deliver oxygen all over your body.
- Cushion your bones.
- Regulate your body temperature.
- Act as a shock absorber for your brain, your spinal cord and, if you are pregnant, the fetus.
Water is important to your body, especially in warm weather. It keeps your body from overheating. When you exercise, your muscles generate heat. To keep from burning up, your body needs to get rid of that heat. The main way your body discards heat in warm weather is through sweat. As sweat evaporates, it cools the tissues beneath. Lots of sweating reduces your bodys water level, and this loss of fluid affects normal bodily functions.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
If you suspect that you or your child is severely dehydrated, seek immediate medical attention. Signs of dehydration in kids include:
- Dry tongue and dry lips.
- No tears when crying.
- Fewer than six wet diapers per day (for infants), and no wet diapers or urination for eight hours (in toddlers).
- Sunken soft spot on your infants head.
- Sunken eyes.
- Dry, wrinkled skin.
- Deep, rapid breathing.
- Cool, blotchy hands and feet.
Dehydration symptoms in adults may include:
- Headache, delirium and confusion.
- Tiredness (fatigue).
- Dizziness, weakness and lightheadedness.
- Dry mouth and/or a dry cough.
- High heart rate but low blood pressure.
- Loss of appetite but maybe craving sugar.
- Flushed (red) skin.
- Swollen feet.
- Muscle cramps.
- Heat intolerance or chills.
- Constipation.
- Dark-colored pee (urine). Your pee should be a pale, clear color.
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Can dehydration cause fever?
No, dehydration does not typically lead to fever. But many diseases and disorders that cause fever can also cause dehydration.
Does dehydration cause high blood pressure?
Dehydration can actually make your blood pressure drop to dangerously low levels. When this happens, your body goes to work to try to correct it. But in doing so, your body can overcorrect and make your blood pressure skyrocket.
Can dehydration cause diarrhea?
No, but diarrhea can cause dehydration. Severe diarrhea causes a loss of fluids in your body.
Can dehydration cause nausea?
Yes, dehydration can lead to disorientation and dehydration headaches. One of the symptoms of these headaches is nausea and vomiting.
What causes dehydration?
Dehydration happens when you do not drink enough water, or when you lose water quickly through, for example, sweating, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Certain medications like diuretics (water pills) can result in increased urination and dehydration.
What are the risk factors for dehydration?
Anyone can become dehydrated if they do not drink enough water. But infants and children are at a higher risk because they may be unable to communicate that they are thirsty. This is especially important when they are sick. So, make sure to monitor the amount of fluids your child takes in.
Adults ages 65 and older are also at a higher risk. They do not carry as much water in their bodies and they can not tell as easily when they are thirsty. If you are a caregiver, especially for someone with memory problems, offer them drinks frequently. Even if they are enduring an uncomfortable infection like a UTI (urinary tract infection), they still need to consume liquids.
What are the complications of dehydration?
If you or your child has symptoms of severe dehydration, get medical care right away. Severe dehydration can lead to serious complications, including:
Electrolyte imbalances.
Heat-related illnesses like heatstroke.
Kidney issues including kidney stones and kidney failure.
Shock, coma and even death.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is dehydration diagnosed?
If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. That is the easiest way to tell that you need more fluids. If you see your healthcare provider for possible dehydration, they may diagnose the condition based on your symptoms and a physical exam. Laboratory tests can also diagnose dehydration. These tests may include:
Blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and kidney function.
Urine tests to check for possible causes of dehydration.
What are the levels of dehydration?
Healthcare providers categorize dehydration as:
Mild: You just have to take in more fluids orally (by mouth). Drink water, but replace fluids with a drink that contains electrolytes if you experience significant sweating or fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea. You should feel better after five or 10 minutes.
Moderate: Moderate dehydration requires an IV (hydration through your vein). You will get this in an urgent care, emergency room or hospital.
