Home : health : 9 Surprising Signs Of Dehydration To Watch Out For

9 surprising signs of dehydration to watch out for

9 surprising signs of dehydration to watch out for

Dehydration can occur for various reasons, such as sweating excessively, not drinking enough water, or vomiting and diarrhea. Most people know that some common symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, and dark urine, but other unusual and hidden signs may point to this condition. Ignoring these signs of dehydration may lead to health issues in the long run. If one experiences any of these symptoms, increasing the intake of water and other fluids is best.

Bad breath
When the body becomes dehydrated, it produces less saliva. Saliva is important in washing away food particles and bacteria from the mouth. Without enough saliva, bacteria can thrive, causing bad breath.

Muscle cramps
When the body is dehydrated, it can lead to an imbalance of electrolytes, which are essential minerals that help regulate nerve and muscle function. This can cause muscles to contract involuntarily, resulting in painful cramps.

Dry or dull skin
Dehydration can cause the skin to become dry, dull, or less elastic. Wrinkles and fine lines may also be a result of dehydrated skin.

Headaches
Dehydration can cause headaches or migraines in some people. When the body is dehydrated, it can decrease blood volume, which can cause blood vessels in the brain to narrow, leading to headaches.

Dizziness
When the body is dehydrated, it can cause a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness. This is because the body is trying to conserve water by reducing blood flow to the extremities, including the brain.

Food cravings
When dehydrated, the body may mistakenly interpret thirst as hunger, leading to intense cravings for salty, sugary, or fatty foods. Therefore, if one experiences sudden cravings for certain foods, one can try drinking a glass of water first to see if it helps.

Constipation
When the body is dehydrated, it can lead to constipation because it tries to conserve water by pulling it from the colon, resulting in hard and dry stools.

Urinary tract infections
When the body is dehydrated, it can result in concentrated urine, which can irritate the bladder and increase the risk of urinary tract infections.

Fatigue or exhaustion
Dehydration can cause fatigue or tiredness. When the body is dehydrated, it can lead to a decrease in blood pressure, which can reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the muscles and organs, resulting in fatigue.

To avoid these symptoms and potential long-term health risks, one is advised to drink plenty of fluids in the form of broths, soups, juices, and smoothies, in addition to water. One can also consume water-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumbers, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe, and celery. Some doctors recommend drinking 8 glasses of water daily, but the requirement varies largely based on one’s lifestyle and overall health. Outdoor activities like running errands may propel one to forget or postpone drinking water. So, it’s best to always keep a water bottle at hand, especially while traveling, working out, or shopping.

Popular Reads

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.
5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.
Four important steps in anemia management

Four important steps in anemia management

Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Its richness in iron gives blood its red color. Anemia is a condition where a person has low hemoglobin or red blood cell count. From an underlying disease to nutrient deficiencies, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the onset of this condition. There are many forms of anemia. Some of them include: Iron deficiency anemia -This is caused due to low iron levels in the blood. Most common causes of this type of anemia are heavy menstruation or internal bleeding. Vitamin deficiency anemia – This type of anemia is caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, B-12 or folate Aplastic anemia – Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough red blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. Sickle cell anemia – This is a condition characterized by the development of abnormal crescent-shaped red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia – This is a blood disorder caused due to premature death of red blood cells. Thalassemia – This is caused due to low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood disorders vary in duration and severity. Prompt diagnosis, and treatment are important because anemia could also be due to an underlying condition.