Dehydration – Illnesses & conditions

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1. 1.

   About dehydration

2. 2.

   Symptoms of dehydration

3. 3.

   Causes of dehydration

4. 4.

   Treating dehydration

5. 5.

   Preventing dehydration

About dehydration

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than you take in.

When the normal water content of your body is reduced, it upsets the balance of minerals (salts and sugar) in your body, which affects the way it functions.

Water makes up over two-thirds of the healthy human body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins, and keeps the skin healthy.

Some of the early warning signs of dehydration include:

• feeling thirsty and lightheaded
• a dry mouth
• tiredness
• having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine
• passing urine less often than usual

A baby may be dehydrated if they:

• have a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on their head
• have few or no tears when they cry
• have fewer wet nappies
• are drowsy

The body is affected even when you lose a small amount of fluid.

Read more about the symptoms of dehydration

What causes dehydration?

Dehydration is usually caused by not drinking enough fluid to replace what we lose. The climate, the amount of physical exercise you are doing (particularly in hot weather) and your diet can contribute to dehydration.

You can also become dehydrated as a result of an illness, such as persistent vomiting and diarrhoea, or sweating from a fever.

Read more about the causes of dehydration

Who is at risk from dehydration?

Anyone can become dehydrated, but certain groups are particularly at risk. These include:

• babies and infants – they have a low body weight and are sensitive to even small amounts of fluid loss
• older people – they may be less aware that they are becoming dehydrated and need to keep drinking fluids
• people with a long-term health condition – such as diabetes or alcoholism
• athletes – they can lose a large amount of body fluid through sweat when exercising for long periods 

What to do

If you’re dehydrated, drink plenty of fluids such as water, diluted squash or fruit juice. These are much more effective than large amounts of tea or coffee. Fizzy drinks may contain more sugar than you need and may be harder to take in large amounts.

If you’re finding it difficult to keep water down because you’re vomiting, try drinking small amounts more frequently.

Infants and small children who are dehydrated shouldn’t be given large amounts of water alone as the main replacement fluid. This is because it can dilute the already low level of minerals in their body too much and lead to other problems.

Instead, they should be given diluted squash or a rehydration solution (available from pharmacies). You might find a teaspoon or syringe can be helpful for getting fluid into a young child.

If left untreated, severe dehydration can be serious and cause fits (seizures), brain damage and death.

Read more about treating dehydration

When to see your GP

See your GP if your symptoms continue, despite drinking plenty of fluids, or if you think your baby or toddler is dehydrated.

If your GP suspects dehydration, you may have a blood test or a urine test to check the balance of salts (sodium and potassium) in your body.

Contact your GP, out-of-hours service or NHS 24 111 service straight away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• extreme thirst
• feeling unusually tired (lethargic) or confused
• not passing urine for eight hours
• rapid heartbeat
• dizziness when you stand up that doesn’t go away after a few seconds

You should also contact your GP if your baby has had six or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, or if they have vomited three times or more in the past 24 hours. 

Symptoms of dehydration

Dehydration can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on how much of your body weight is lost through fluids.

Two early signs of dehydration are thirst and dark-coloured urine. This is the body’s way of trying to increase water intake and decrease water loss.

Other symptoms may include:

• dizziness or light-headedness
• headache 
• tiredness
• dry mouth, lips and eyes
• passing small amounts of urine infrequently (less than three or four times a day)

Dehydration can also lead to a loss of strength and stamina. It’s a main cause of heat exhaustion.

You should be able to reverse dehydration at this stage by drinking more fluids.

If dehydration is ongoing (chronic), it can affect your kidney function and increase the risk of kidney stones. It can also lead to muscle damage and constipation.

When to see your GP

See your GP if your symptoms continue despite drinking fluids, or if you suspect that your baby or toddler is dehydrated.

You should also contact your GP if your baby has had six or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, or if they have vomited three times or more in the past 24 hours.

If dehydration is suspected, you may be given a blood test or a urine test to check the balance of salts (sodium and potassium) in your body.

Severe dehydration

If dehydration is left untreated, it can become severe.

Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.

Contact your GP, out-of-hours service or NHS 24 111 service straight away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• feeling unusually tired (lethargic) or confused, and you think you may be dehydrated
• dizziness when you stand up that doesn’t go away after a few seconds
• not passing urine for eight hours
• a weak pulse
• a rapid pulse
• fits (seizures)
• a low level of conciousness

If severe dehydration is not treated immediately, it can lead to complications. This level of dehydration needs hospital treatment and you will be put on a drip to restore the substantial loss of fluids.

Dehydration in babies

A baby may be dehydrated if they have:

• a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on their head
• few or no tears when they cry
• a dry mouth
• fewer wet nappies
• dark yellow urine
• drowsiness
• fast breathing
• cold and blotchy-looking hands and feet

Read about how to treat dehydration in babies

Causes of dehydration

Dehydration is caused by not drinking enough fluid or by losing more fluid than you take in. Fluid is lost through sweat, tears, vomiting, urine or diarrhoea.

The severity of dehydration can depend on a number of factors, such as climate, level of physical activity and diet.

There are several causes of dehydration, which are described below.

Illness

Dehydration is often the result of an illness, such as gastroenteritis, where fluid is lost through persistent bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Sweating

You can also become dehydrated if you sweat excessively after a fever, exercise, or carrying out heavy, manual work in hot conditions.

In these situations, it’s important to drink regularly to replace lost fluids. It doesn’t necessarily need to be hot for you to lose a significant amount of fluid from sweating.

Children and teenagers are particularly at risk because they may ignore the symptoms of dehydration, or not know how to recognise and treat them.

Alcohol

Dehydration can also occur as a result of drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you wee more.

The headache associated with a hangover indicates that your body is dehydrated. You should try to drink plenty of water when you have been drinking alcohol.

Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you’re at risk of becoming dehydrated because you have high levels of glucose in your bloodstream. Your kidneys will try to get rid of the glucose by creating more urine, so your body becomes dehydrated from going to the toilet more frequently.

Read more about the different types of diabetes

Who’s at risk?

The groups of people most at risk of dehydration are:

• babies and infants – their low body weight makes them sensitive to even small amounts of fluid loss
• older people – they may be less aware they’re becoming dehydrated and need to drink fluids
• people with a long-term health condition – such as diabetes or alcoholism
• athletes – they can lose a large amount of body fluid through sweat when exercising for long periods

Hyponatremia

It’s possible to become overhydrated while exercising. This is known as hyponatremia and it’s caused by low sodium (salt) levels in the blood. It can occur if too much water is drunk over a short period of time.

Hyponatremia sometimes affects athletes whose blood sodium level is reduced through sweat and then diluted by drinking large amounts of water.

Symptoms of hyponatremia include nausea, vomiting and headache. In serious cases, the brain can swell, causing confusion, seizures, coma and, in rare cases, death.

Treating dehydration

The best way to treat dehydration is to rehydrate the body by drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, diluted squash or diluted fruit juice.

A sweet drink can help to replace lost sugar, and a salty snack can help to replace lost salt.

Babies

If your baby is dehydrated, take them to see your GP as soon as possible. They’ll be able to recommend appropriate treatments, such as those outlined below.

Give your baby plenty of liquids, such as breastmilk or formula. It can often be better to give them smaller amounts of fluid more frequently.

Don’t dilute your baby’s formula (if you use it). Babies who are formula-fed and those on solids can be given extra water.

Avoid giving your baby fruit juice, particularly if they have diarrhoea and vomiting, because it can make it worse.

Giving your baby regular sips (a few times an hour) of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in addition to their usual feed (breastmilk, formula milk and water) will help to replace lost fluids, salts and sugars.

Infants and children

Infants and children who are dehydrated shouldn’t be given solely water, because it can dilute the already low level of minerals in their body and make the problem worse. Instead, they should have diluted squash or a special ORS (see below).

If you or your child is finding it difficult to hold down fluids because of vomiting, take smaller amounts more frequently. You may find it easier to use a spoon or a syringe to give your child small amounts of fluid.

Read more about vomiting in adults and vomiting in children and babies

Oral rehydration solutions

When you’re dehydrated, you lose sugar and salts, as well as water. Drinking a rehydration solution will enable you to re-establish the right balance of body fluids. The solution should contain a mixture of potassium and sodium salts, as well as glucose or starch.

There are several different rehydration products available over the counter from pharmacies or on prescription from your GP, including solutions that are suitable for infants and children.

Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice about the most suitable rehydration solution for you or your child.

Severe dehydration

Seek immediate medical help if you suspect someone is severely dehydrated (see symptoms of severe dehydration).

They may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment. In particular, babies, infants and elderly people will need urgent treatment if they become dehydrated.

Fluid may be given up the nose using a nasogastric tube or using a saline drip into a vein (intravenously). This will provide essential nutrients faster than using solutions that you drink.

If you have had bowel surgery, some rehydration solutions may not contain enough salt. In this instance, you will need a higher-strength solution. Your GP or surgeon can recommend a suitable rehydration solution for you.

Preventing dehydration

You should drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Most of the time, you can prevent dehydration by drinking water regularly throughout the day. Be guided by your thirst, but be aware that in hot weather, when exercising and during illness, you should drink more.

Mild dehydration can be relieved by drinking more water and diluted fruit squash. If necessary, you can purchase oral rehydration solutions (ORS) from a pharmacy. As a guide, passing pale or clear-coloured urine (wee) is a good sign that you’re well hydrated.

Drink regularly

If you’re active, or if the weather is particularly hot, there’s a greater risk that you will become dehydrated. To prevent becoming dehydrated, you should increase your fluid intake.

As different people sweat at different rates, it’s very difficult to provide specific recommendations about how much fluid you should drink. However, you should drink more than normal while exercising, and it’s particularly important to keep well hydrated if you’re exercising in warm conditions. This is because you will sweat more and fluid will be lost from your body more rapidly.

Rarely, drinking more fluid than your body can process can reduce the amount of sodium (salt) in your blood. This can lead to a serious and potentially fatal condition called hyponatremia. If you start to feel discomfort and bloating from drinking, stop drinking and allow time to recover.

Illness

If you, your child or someone you are caring for is ill, particularly with a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, there’s a high risk of becoming dehydrated, so it’s important to start replacing fluid as soon as possible.

Advice for children

There are no specific recommendations regarding the amount of water or other fluids that children need.

However, it’s important for children to replace lost fluid, to prevent dehydration. Like adults, children lose more water when they are in hotter climates and when they are physically active.

You should give your child healthy drinks as part of an overall healthy, balanced diet.

10 Signs of Dehydration You Need To Know

Studies show that over 75% of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration, which is close to 246 million people.

Monitoring for dehydration signs and symptoms as soon as possible is key to proper dehydration treatment and can help prevent a more serious, life-threatening case. 

There are several common signs of dehydration to look out for, with some being more obvious than others. It’s important to know that if dehydration becomes more severe, it can lead to signs of mental and physical decline that will need immediate action for reversal. If symptoms of severe dehydration are concerning enough, they may also require the assistance of a medical professional.

1. Not Urinating or Very Dark Urine

An easy way to test and see if you’re dehydrated is by checking the color of your urine. Normal urine should be pale yellow, like lemonade. If your urine is a darker color, similar to apple juice, this could be a sign of moderate to severe dehydration. 

If you’re not urinating at all, you’re most likely severely dehydrated. This requires immediate medical attention.

What to do: If you find your urine is dark yellow, start drinking more water immediately. It’s best to take small sips of water your body can adequately absorb. 

If you feel you’re not getting enough fluids regularly, consider taking a large water bottle with you to drink throughout the day—at work, in the car and on the go.

2. Dry Skin That Doesn’t Bounce Back When Pinched

Checking the color of your urine is not the only quick test you can perform to determine if you’re dehydrated. A person’s skin elasticity is also telling. 

Try this test: Pinch the skin on the top of your hand and see what happens. If it moves back slowly, this is an indication that you’re mild to moderately dehydrated. If the skin seems to stick together (i.e., it “tents”), this is a sign of a severe case of dehydration.

What to do: Just like with darker urine, you should increase your water intake and drink fluids if you’re experiencing mild to moderate dehydration. A glass of water is typically a good “go-to,” but if you’ve just finished a strenuous workout a sports drink or coconut water may be more effective in replenishing fluids and electrolytes. 

If you are severely dehydrated and your skin tents, you may have to visit a healthcare provider who can help treat dehydration.

3. Rapid Heartbeat and Breathing

It’s natural to have an increased heart rate and rapid breathing while exercising. But if your symptoms don’t go away once you’ve cooled down or you haven’t been working out, and you experience these symptoms, it could be a sign of a severe case of dehydration. This is because depleted amounts of electrolytes can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood.

What to do:  Fluid intake is crucial for organs like your heart, liver, kidneys and lungs to function properly. Therefore, you must visit a doctor to assess for dehydration if you experience these symptoms. 

After a thorough examination, if a medical professional determines you are dehydrated, you’ll likely be hooked up to receive intravenous fluid containing a concentrated rehydration solution. This water features salts and sugars like sodium chloride and potassium for quick delivery of fluids to the parts of your body that need it most.

4. Dizziness or Lightheadedness

Did you know that your brain is approximately 75% water? That’s why drinking water and eating water-filled foods can help your brain work better. 

On the flip side, if you don’t get enough fluids, it can negatively affect your brain function. For example, if you are experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness or feel as if you may pass out, this may mean you are severely dehydrated. 

What to do: Don’t take symptoms like these lightly. Properly rehydrate by slowing drinking water and eating fruits and vegetables with high water content. 

These include cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, strawberries, apples and grapes. This will help replenish your body with the minerals and electrolytes it needs to absorb into the brain and tissues. 

However, if you’re experiencing severe dizziness or lightheadedness, you should go to the emergency room as soon as possible to be checked out by a healthcare provider.

5. Fever and Chills

We typically associate a fever and chills with an illness like the flu or another virus. But don’t let this warning sign fool you. It’s also a dangerous sign of severe dehydration. When your body doesn’t have enough fluids, it’s hard to maintain a regular body temperature, and this can lead to hyperthermia and fever-like symptoms, including chills.

What to do: If this occurs during physical activity or while playing sports, stop what you’re doing immediately. The stress you’re placing on your body and its systems can worsen your symptoms. 

To treat dehydration at home, drink more fluids and either apply a cold compress to your face or take an ice bath to cool down. If your temperature doesn’t improve or it reaches above 103°, go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center. 

This may indicate a more severe case of dehydration in adults and requires immediate medical attention.

6. Unconsciousness

Unconsciousness from dehydration can result from low blood pressure or dizziness. When accompanied by other dehydration signs, this could be indicative of severe fluid loss. 

If you or someone you know is feeling lightheaded or hot due to a high body temperature, they might be on the brink of passing out. Unconsciousness is a red flag that your body is in dire need of water.

What to do: Call 911 immediately if you’re around someone who passes out, or if you’re alone and feel like you may pass out. This requires transportation to the emergency room right away for dehydration treatment. 

Like with other serious signs of dehydration, you or the person affected will most likely receive rehydration therapy. You’ll be monitored by doctors to ensure you’re stable and your fluid levels have returned to normal before you’re released.

7. Confusion

Dehydration can also lead to confusion and difficulty concentrating. If you have trouble focusing or organizing your thoughts clearly, dehydration may be a triggering factor. Losing body water can lead to confusion and disorientation and signify severe dehydration.

What to do: If you lose focus, try drinking a glass of water. If confusion starts worsening or you become disoriented, seek immediate medical attention.

8. Fatigue

Another classic sign of dehydration is fatigue. This fatigue can occur for several reasons, but one of the main reasons may be that dehydration negatively impacts sleep. Studies have shown those who sleep less tend to be more dehydrated and those who were well hydrated slept longer on average.

Fatigue can affect your everyday life, making it feel harder to get through the workday or a challenging workout. 

What to do: If you feel yourself frequently tiring out shortly into your workouts or feeling fatigued regularly, it’s likely a good time to evaluate your water intake. Call your doctor or local urgent care if you experience extreme fatigue that affects your everyday life.

9. Sunken Eyes or Dry Eyes

While perhaps not as obvious, having dry or sunken eyes are also a classic symptom of dehydration. This is because less fluid and tears are circulating, leading to dryness in the eyes.

In these cases,  your eyes can burn. It may even feel like you have sand in your eyes, or they may become more sensitive to light. 

What to do: If any of these symptoms occur, drinking water may help.

10. White Tongue

Dehydration can also cause a physical symptom called the white tongue. This appears as a white coating on the tongue’s surface caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells that become lodged and inflamed. This can occur for many reasons, but the primary causes are dehydration and dry mouth.

What to do: While a white tongue is generally harmless, it can be an underlying sign that you’re dehydrated. Drink plenty of water and brush your tongue gently with a toothbrush. If it doesn’t go away in a few weeks, it’s a good idea to call a doctor.

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, it’s essential to check your water intake. It’s also important to understand what dehydration actually is and what happens to your body when it dehydrates.

Causes of Dehydration

There are several possible causes of dehydration, typically either due to not drinking enough fluids or from losing bodily fluids:

• Inadequate fluid intake – If you’re not drinking enough water or water-containing foods like fruits and vegetables, it’s easier to become dehydrated.
• Diarrhea and vomiting – Both of these symptoms cause fluid loss, which can result in dehydration.
• Excessive sweating – This can result from strenuous or endurance physical activity or exposure to hot weather conditions.
• Increased urination – This can occur if you have diabetes or certain medications that can cause you to urinate more and lose fluid, such as diuretics or blood pressure medications.
• Fever – Having a fever alone dehydrates you. This is because an increase in body temperature increases your metabolism and your breathing rate, leading you to breathe out more moisture.

Ways of Preventing Dehydration

These tips can help you prevent dehydration to begin with, which is easier than having to treat it after it already happened. 

• Keep a water bottle by your side and keep it in your line of sight. 
• Add natural ingredients to your water, like fresh strawberries, cucumbers and orange or lemon slices. Seltzer waters are a great option to choose from as well.
• Eat more water-filled fruit and vegetables. In fact, cantaloupe, watermelon, leafy greens and tomatoes all contain 90% water!
• Drink electrolytes or coconut water post-workout.
• Avoid alcohol consumption if you’re already feeling dehydrated as this increases your fluid loss.

Visit Your GoHealth Urgent Care Today

When you’re severely dehydrated, your gut reaction may be to chug fluids or water-filled foods into the body as quickly as possible. However, you don’t want to overdo it. It’s possible to drink too much water, resulting in a condition called hyponatremia. This is when sodium and electrolytes in the blood are so low that they can be life-threatening.

As Dr. Ben Stein of GoHealth Urgent Care stated, “Some patients are just overcompensating based on the information they’ve heard.” But this can result in more harm than good. Understanding your individual fluid needs based on your age, medical status and lifestyle can help you keep your hydration status in balance.

If you need help assessing the warning signs of dehydration and treating it, come see the experts at GoHealth Urgent Care. You can walk in without an appointment, or you can check in online. We’ll have you back to feeling better in no time.

Written by Sarah Thebarge, Physician Assistant

Dehydration and its symptoms

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Health

Adviсe

Dehydration percentage:

• 1% – intense thirst, headache, general malaise;
• 5% – dizziness, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath;
• 10% – convulsions, cell death;
• 20% – death.

1

During illness, especially in case of poisoning and SARS, drink much more than usual, and not only hot tea, popular in such situations, but also just clean water;

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2

When exercising and in hot weather, also increase the intake of water that is lost through sweat;

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3

Don’t tolerate being thirsty – always have a small bottle of water with you. And even better – a stylish and compact AQUAPHOR City filter bottle.

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How to suspect dehydration and how it threatens the body

Health

February 2

It is better to drink before thirst appears.

What is dehydration

Dehydration is a condition in which the body loses more fluid than it takes in.

The human body is 55-78% water. It is involved in all processes, so the loss of even 1.5% causes headaches, dizziness and fatigue. The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink before you feel thirsty. But it is very difficult to make up for the loss of fluid in some diseases. Because of this, dehydration can even lead to death.

Why dehydration occurs

Dehydration occurs when a person does not drink enough water or loses it too quickly. Possible reasons for this situation:

• sweating on a hot day or with a fever;
• severe vomiting;
• prolonged diarrhoea;
• frequent urination when taking diuretics.

Who is more likely to get dehydrated

Anyone can get dehydrated, but the most common ones are:

• babies because they cannot report thirst and their condition;
• taking diuretics;
• who have had severe diarrhea or who have frequent intestinal problems;
• older people because they already have less water in their bodies, feel less thirsty and take diuretics more often because of heart disease;
• people with diabetes due to more frequent urination;
• athletes — against the background of intense training;
• drinking too much alcohol;
• those who have spent a lot of time in the sun or in a hot environment such as a sauna.

What complications can dehydration lead to

Since all organs need water, the body suffers without it: there is less blood. Therefore, the heart is forced to work harder, and the vessels of the brain narrow. The latter affects memory and coordination.

If there are not enough salts and minerals, convulsions and interruptions in the work of the heart may begin.

And if the blood becomes critically low, hypovolemic shock may develop. With it, organs can be irreversibly damaged, and a person can die.

What are the signs of dehydration

Thirst seems to be the most obvious sign, but it’s not that simple. Many people, especially the elderly, don’t feel dehydrated until they become dehydrated enough. Therefore, you need to drink before you feel like it, and increase the amount of water in hot weather, during sports and when you are sick.

You can notice dehydration by symptoms such as:

• dry mouth;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• drowsiness;
• decreased amount of urine (babies keep diapers dry longer).

What to do when you’re dehydrated

When you’re dehydrated, you need to drink water. If it does not linger and “asks back”, start with very small portions, for example, drink from a spoon. Relief usually comes quickly.

Avoid fruit juices, as they are high in sugar and fruit acids and can aggravate indigestion. Drinks with caffeine and alcohol are also not recommended, because they increase urination and, conversely, draw out water.

With severe sweating, vomiting and diarrhea, in addition to fluid, the body loses salts and minerals that need to be replenished. In such a situation, a large volume of water will not help, but will only dilute the blood, which can cause heart failure, convulsions and other problems.

Therefore, with large fluid losses, it is better to drink pharmacy solutions of electrolytes, and during intense training – sports drinks with salts.

Babies should not be given water to avoid water intoxication. So it is better to apply to the chest more often. If the child receives the mixture, then in no case should it be diluted further. If dehydration is suspected, try giving a little water from a spoon.

In severe cases, if drinking does not seem to help, or if vomiting and diarrhea persist, you will need medical attention.

When to call an ambulance

Severe dehydration can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, sometimes with dehydration, urgent medical attention is needed.

For an adult and a child who already speaks well

The following symptoms can be considered dangerous:

• feeling extremely tired;
• disorientation in space;
• dizziness when standing up that does not go away within a few seconds;
• dark yellow urine;
• infrequent urge to urinate;
• rapid breathing and palpitations;
• reddened and hot skin;
• fever;
• convulsions;
• hallucinations;
• altered mental state.