Symptoms of Dehydration

It is extremely important to be educated on and and able to identify symptoms of dehydration. Many people think that they are void from this condition if they don’t exercise or work in the sun, this is far from being accurate. Dehydration is a serious matter! Being able to recognize early symptoms gives you the opportunity to reverse the effect before severe damage is done.

What is Dehydration?

You may or may not be aware that at least 60 percent of the human body is made up of water and that figure jumps up to 70 percent for the brain. Your body needs that amount of water at all times for your cells and organs to function properly.

When you lose more water than you take in, symptoms of dehydration begin to occur. Many people think that sweating is the primary cause of this but you also lose water when you urinate and even when you breathe. It can also occur from fever, vomiting and diarrhea which is why dehydration is so prevalent in babies and the elderly. Individuals who are not able to freely consume water or can’t communicate their needs often don’t receive the water that they need in a timely manner.

Mild to Moderate Symptoms of Dehydration

• Sticky, dry mouth.
• Tiredness or sleepiness, children who are typically active may appear to be more lethargic.
• Extreme thirst.
• Decreased urine. Eight hours without urination in adults may be a sign of dehydration but only three hours of a dry diaper in babies should be a cause for concern.
• Inability to create tears, even when crying.
• Headache, dizziness or nausea.
• Constipation.
• Dry skin.

Severe Symptoms of Dehydration

• Extreme thirst.
• Irritability or confusion in adults.
• Sleepiness or fussiness in babies and children.
• Dry skin, mouth and mucous membranes.
• Inability to sweat,
• Very little urination. When urine is produced, it is very dark.
• Shrivelled skin with no elasticity.
• Sunken eyes in children and adults or sunken toe nails in babies.
• Fever.
• Low blood pressure.
• Rapid breathing and heartbeat.
• Delirium or unconsciousness are more severe symptoms of dehydration.

If you are a healthy individual, typically drinking water or a sports drink with electrolytes will alleviate symptoms of dehydration rather quickly. If you are susceptible to dehydration due to exercise or your career, consider eating saltine crackers or a few pretzels with salt to help you retain a bit of water. If extreme thirst, dizziness, confusion, lack of urination or shriveled skin are present, seek medical attention right away.