What Happens If You Are Dehydrated? ToneOp

Water is your best friend!

Reminder: Never stay away from your best friend.

Dehydration is a common and often overlooked medical condition that can have serious consequences if left untreated. Many people around the world face severe dehydration. The reasons could be many, even physical activities. 

It is important to be aware of the symptoms, causes, and treatments for dehydration to prevent it from occurring. Not only this, but dehydration can also have after-effects on your body, leading to various other health-related issues. 

By understanding what dehydration is and how to identify it, you can take steps to ensure that you remain healthy and hydrated. This will help you keep your body and overall health fit and provide glowing skin. Hydration is the first step if you are initiating a wedding makeover plan. 

So, let us discuss the symptoms of dehydration, what causes it, and the treatments available to help you stay hydrated and keep your body fit and healthy.

Table Of Contents

1. What Is Dehydration?

2. Causes Of Dehydration

3. Symptoms Of Dehydration

4. Treatments Of Dehydration

5. Dietitian’s Recommendation

6. The Final Say

7. FAQs

What Is Dehydration?

Dehydration is a disorder that develops when the body loses too much of the fluids it needs to function normally, including water. 

The most common cause of dehydration is persistent diarrhoea and vomiting, but inadequate hydration, excessive sweating, fever, excessive urination, and some medications can also contribute.

There are several telltale signs and symptoms of dehydration, including thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, headache, sunken eyes, weariness, infrequent urination, dry skin, dizziness, muscular cramps, fainting, and fast breathing. 

Severe dehydration is a possibility, particularly in small children and elderly people. However, people often confuse hunger with dehydration, so it is important to understand whether you are hungry or just dehydrated.

Causes Of Dehydration

There could be various reasons and conditions causing dehydration in your body. Here are a few common causes of dehydration.

1. Fever

When you get a fever, your body temperature rises. To reduce the excess heat from your body, the body starts to lose fluids from your skin, such as sweating.

In case of a very high fever, if you do not drink water to replenish the water that your body loses, you will feel dehydrated. 

2. Excessive Urination

The body often expels toxins from the body through urinating. Chemical imbalances may result from certain conditions. Diabetes that is undiagnosed or poorly managed may also be blamed. Your production of pee may increase in such circumstances. Dehydration can occur if you do not replenish fluid lost through frequent urine. 

Dehydration can also be a side effect of some medications, such as diuretics and blood pressure medications, mostly because they make you urinate more frequently.

3. Increased Sweating

Your body naturally cools itself through sweating. Your sweat glands produce moisture when you feel hot to cool down your body. 

A modest amount of heat is lost when sweat drops evaporate off your skin. Your body cools you off more due to increased evaporation caused by increased sweat production. Additionally, to hydrate your skin, sweating keeps the electrolyte balance in your body in check.

Most of the liquid you sweat is made up of salt and water. Dehydration can result from excessive perspiration because you lose a lot of water.

4. Diarrhoea

A severe case of acute diarrhoea, or diarrhoea that appears abruptly and violently, can cause a rapid loss of electrolytes and water. You lose much more fluids and minerals if you have both diarrhoea and vomiting. This can leave your body dehydrated.

Symptoms Of Dehydration

The symptoms of dehydration usually are visible and could be as follows in adults and children:

• Feeling dizzy
• Sunken eyes
• Tiredness
• Dry lips, tongue and mouth
• Urination occurs less often than usual
• Feeling thirsty
• Dark yellow pee with a strong odour.

The symptoms of dehydration in an infant can vary. These could include a soft spot (fontanelle) on top of their head that has sunk, sunken eyes, being grouchy or agitated, not having many wet diapers, and crying with few or no tears.

Treatments For Dehydration

Where dehydration is when your body loses excess water, the treatment for the same is to replenish the water that was lost by rehydration your body as far as possible. Here are a few things you must consider:

• To treat dehydration, rehydrating the body's fluid stores is necessary. 
• Consuming clear liquids like water, clear broths, frozen water, ice pops, or sports drinks can help you stay rehydrated. However, some dehydrated individuals will need intravenous fluids to rehydrate. 
• Dehydrated people should avoid caffeinated beverages, including sodas, coffee, and tea.
• Dehydration's underlying causes should be treated with the right medication in addition to dehydration itself. 
• You can also eat fruits and vegetables that are high in water.

Dietitian’s Recommendation 

Include foods in your diet that are rich in water content and track how much water you drink. Making sure that you drink an adequate amount of water every day is essential for your body. Ideally, for men, this equates to 15.5 cups (3.7 litres) of fluids each day. Women should drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 litres) of fluids daily.                                                             

The Final Say

Dehydration can be a severe condition when the body does not have enough fluids. It is important to be aware of the symptoms, causes, and treatments of dehydration to take the necessary steps to prevent it. 

Keep your body rehydrated as much as you by consuming enough fluids. Along with rehydration, ensure that you are consistent and make a habit of consuming enough water intake. Your body essentially needs water to function effectively. Keeping it hydrated will ultimately help you stay fit and healthy!

FAQs

1. What is the best treatment for dehydration?

Rehydrating the body with enough fluids, such as water, diluted squash, or diluted fruit juice, is the best way to treat dehydration.

2. How is dehydration managed by doctors?

Your doctor can administer intravenous (IV) fluids to you to alleviate dehydration. This could occur in a hospital or an outpatient care centre. You will be watched for low blood pressure, a quick heartbeat, and abnormal kidney function while your body rehydrates.

3. What does it feel like to be dehydrated?

When you are dehydrated, you may feel delirium, confusion, and headache. You may also undergo vertigo, dizziness and weakness.

4. Is it possible to hydrate by consuming water all at once?

Even though getting enough water each day is crucial, staying hydrated requires more than just water. You must restore both your electrolytes and your fluids to stay hydrated.

5. What is the time it takes for water to hydrate you?

When a glass of water is consumed, it takes your body about 15 minutes to absorb the liquid. Fluids, however, can take up to three times as long (45 minutes) to travel from the stomach into the bloodstream and to the rest of the body when you are dehydrated.

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