Lack of water symptoms: 10 Warning Signs that Your Body is Lacking Water

06.07.202323.06.2023 by alexxlab

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Dehydration – NHS

Dehydration means your body loses more fluids than you take in. If it’s not treated, it can get worse and become a serious problem.

Important

Babies, children and older adults are more at risk of dehydration.

Check if you’re dehydrated

Symptoms of dehydration in adults and children include:

feeling thirsty
dark yellow, strong-smelling pee
peeing less often than usual
feeling dizzy or lightheaded
feeling tired
a dry mouth, lips and tongue
sunken eyes

Signs of dehydration in a baby may include:

a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on top of their head
sunken eyes
few or no tears when they cry
not having many wet nappies
being drowsy or irritable

Causes of dehydration

Dehydration can happen more easily if you:

have diabetes
have been sick or have diarrhoea
have been in the sun too long (heatstroke)
have drunk too much alcohol
sweat a lot after exercising
have a high temperature
take medicines that make you pee more (diuretics)

Things you can do to treat dehydration

You should drink fluids if you have symptoms of dehydration.

If you feel sick or have been sick, you may find it hard to drink, so start with small sips and then gradually drink more.

A pharmacist can help with dehydration

If you’re being sick or have diarrhoea and are losing too much fluid, you need to put back the sugar, salts and minerals your body has lost.

A pharmacist can recommend oral rehydration solutions. These are powders that you mix with water and then drink.

Ask your pharmacist which rehydration solutions are right for you or your child.

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you’re feeling unusually tired (or your child seems drowsy)
you’re confused and disorientated
you feel dizzy when you stand up and it does not go away
you have dark yellow pee or you’re peeing less than normal (or your baby has fewer wet nappies)
you or your child are breathing quickly or has a fast heart rate
your baby or child has few or no tears when they cry
your baby has a soft spot on their head that sinks inwards (sunken fontanelle)

These can be signs of serious dehydration that need urgent treatment.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Keeping your child hydrated

Once dehydration has been treated, it’s important that your child’s fluid levels are maintained.

Do

carry on breastfeeding your baby or using formula – try to give small amounts more often than usual
give your baby small sips of extra water if they’re on formula or solid foods
give regular small sips of rehydration solution to replace lost fluids – ask your pharmacist to recommend one
give small children their usual diet

How to reduce the risk of dehydration

Drinking fluids regularly can reduce the risk of dehydration. Water or diluted squash are good choices.

You should drink enough during the day, so your pee is a pale clear colour.

Drink more when there’s a higher risk of dehydrating. For example, if you’re being sick, sweating due to hot weather or exercise, or you have diarrhoea.

Children under the age of 5 should get plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Helping someone you care for

A person you care for may not have a sense of how much they’re drinking.

You can help them by:

making sure they drink at mealtimes
making drinking a social thing, like “having a cup of tea”
offering them food with a high water content – for example, soup, ice cream, jelly and fruits like melon

Video: how to prevent dehydration

This video shows you how you can reduce the risk of dehydration.

Media last reviewed: 1 July 2020
Media review due: 1 July 2023

Page last reviewed: 14 November 2022
Next review due: 14 November 2025

10 Warning Signs that Your Body is Lacking Water

It balances the body fluids.

It regulates and maintains body temperature.

It promotes the elimination of waste products and toxins.

It promotes digestion.

It controls calorie intake.

It keeps your skin hydrated and youthful.

It offers protection for your tissues, spinal cord and joints.

It lubricates your joints and eyes.

Therefore, due to the fact that the functions of our organs depend on water, proper hydration is extremely important for our health. So, you need to consume lots of fluids and eat foods rich in water in order to keep your body hydrated.

Yet, your body can lose more water in some situations, including diarrhea, vomiting, frequent urination, hard physical activity, excessive sweating and diabetes.

Dehydration impedes your body function as it causes electrolyte imbalance. Yet, numerous people do not know the most important symptoms of dehydration and may not notice it. These signs may help you act on time and prevent further complications.

These are the 10 most prominent dehydration symptoms that you must know:

1. Accelerated heartbeat

The proper body hydration affects your heart rate and performance. Namely, the lack of water in the body leads to more viscous blood and decreases the volume of the plasma, which leads to a circulation of the blood and accelerated heart rate.

A study published in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research in 2014 confirmed this, as the researchers discovered that due to dehydration, there is an average change of the heartbeat of three beats per minute for every 1% change in body weight.

Despite hypotension, the lack of water in the body can lead to alterations in the electrolytes levels in your body. This accelerates heart palpitations as a result of the extra stress on your body. Moreover, this situation can be the reason for fear, panic and anxiety.

If you experience these symptoms, you need to sip some water slowly, in order to check if your condition improves. If not, you need to consult your doctor.

2. Bad breath and dry mouth

In the case of a deficiency of water in the body, it stimulates the production of saliva, which has antibacterial properties. Due to the fact that bacteria proliferate in the oral cavity, you may experience bad breath. Furthermore, you will also have a dry mouth, as water has the function of a lubricator, that is, to hydrate the mucus membranes in the throat.

3. Abrupt food cravings

In numerous cases, we can mistake our thirst with hunger. Namely, we crave for food when our body needs water. Hence, if you suddenly feel the need to eat something, you should first drink a glass of water before you get something to eat.

Furthermore, in the case of water loss and loss of electrolytes, the body has a great need for a salty food. In these cases, you should consume a sports drink which has sodium, or you can drink the mixture of some fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of salt and a glass of water.

Moreover, you can also experience food cravings when the production of glycogen is difficult, so you need to eat some sweet, but also rich in water, fruits, like papaya, berries and watermelon.

4. Pain in the joints and muscles

Lack of water in the body increases the friction between the bones, which causes painful joints. This is due to the fact that our joints and cartilage are made of 80% water.

Conversely, in the case of proper hydration of the body, our joints can easily handle movements and physical activities, including jumping, running and falling in a painless way. Also, you may also experience cramps and muscle spasm if your body lacks water.

5. Headaches and dizziness

Due to the decreased amount of liquid which surrounds your brain, and it is needed for the protection from mild knocks, you may experience dizziness and migraines.

Moreover, you may also have headaches, which are caused by the reduced flow of oxygen and blood to the brain, due to dehydration.

Te report published in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology in 2010 also proved that dehydration may lead to severe headaches and migraines. In the case of a headache due to dehydration, a glass of water can be as effective as pills.

6. Constipation and digestive issue

The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a story in 2003 which proved that proper hydration is essential in the prevention of constipation and the key to proper body function.

The hydrating function of water in all tissues and cells in the body is also needed by the digestive system. Namely, it is responsible for a clean and supple gastro- intestinal tract, prevents constipation and triggers your bowel movements.

In the case of dehydration, you may experience constipation, as the loss of fluid leads to a hardened stool. Furthermore, dehydration can also be caused by vomiting and diarrhea, which can furthermore lead to indigestion and acid reflux.

7. Fatigue and lethargy

Proper body hydration will keep you alert and energetic. Dehydration also causes lethargy and fatigue, as the lack of water in the brain leads to low blood pressure and insufficient supply of oxygen throughout your body. Therefore, you may experience lethargic feelings, exhaustion and sleepiness.

The lack of water in the body also has disadvantageous effects in the transport of important nutrients to cells. Due to all this, the body needs to invest extra efforts to sustain it, and spends additional energy, which leads to fatigue.

8. Decreased need for urination and changed urine color

Your body may be dehydrated if you do not feel the need to urinate every few hours. In the case of properly hydrated body, the need to urinate appears around 4-7 times a day. If you do not urinate this frequently, your body will have increased levels of toxins.

Moreover, the color of the urine changes in the case of dehydration. Namely, if your body is well hydrated, your urine willbe clear and light. Yet, if it lacks water, your urine will dark yellow or amber-colored.

9. Dry skin and lips

Water provides skin elasticity, so if your body is dehydrated, your skin will be dry. Also, you will sweat less if your body lacks water, which will inhibit the elimination of oil built up excess dirt on your skin.

Furthermore, water discards toxins from the body, so if you lack it, it will lead to the appearance of psoriasis, acne and eczema. Another common signs of dehydration are dry and chapped lips.

10. Brain fog or poor concentration

Apart from causing headaches, dehydration may also impede the function of the brain, so it will negatively affect your mood, memory and decision- making skills.

A study published in 2013 in Clinical Autonomic Research showed that the lack of water in the body is one of the major reasons for brain fog along with a lack of sleep, fatigue, and prolonged standing.

Another research published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2011 proved that it can also cause mood swings.

In most cases, when the body is water deficient, it causes signs of brain fog, which include difficulties in communicating, thinking and focusing, as well as forgetfulness.

Prevention

Your overall health, the climate and your physical activity are factors which determine the amount of water you need.

Yet, you should regularly drink plenty of water. Always drink a glass of water at room temperature at the beginning of your day, and a glass of water before each meal.

Moreover, it is useful to carry a bottle of water with you, in order to have it whenever you need. Also, it would be very beneficial to consume fruits and vegetables rich in water every day. Reduce your alcohol, energy and caffeinated drinks intake.

In order to prevent dehydration, you should drink increased amounts of water in the case of diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.

Therefore, what is most important is to note that if you experience rapid or weak pulse, extreme thirst, dizziness or no need to urinate often, you should immediately consult your doctor.

Signs that we are not drinking enough water

The human body is a complex system with a variety of regulatory mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is the feeling of thirst. It reminds us that it is time to replenish the fluid balance in the tissues.

Quite often, a person does not listen to his needs, preferring to use juices, tea, coffee, lemonade instead of water, thereby harming the body. Only water is able to renew the cells of our body, remove toxins and manage metabolic processes.

Our body is able to adapt to various favorable and not very conditions. Therefore, it gets used to the systematic lack of water. Nevertheless, our body signals a violation of the water balance by a number of characteristic signs.

Signs of early dehydration

The fact that our body receives an insufficient amount of water will tell the following states and sensations.

Dry mouth is the obvious and very first sign of starting dehydration. In this case, soda, juice or tea is not a solution to the problem. The body requires replenishment of clean drinking water.
Excessive thirst and lack of satiety appear when the body has lost a significant amount of water. Protecting itself, the brain actively sends signals that are interpreted as a very strong thirst. And until the balance returns to normal, neurons will continue to broadcast the desire to drink.
The feeling of hunger can become a compensatory mechanism instead of the desire to get drunk.
Even a mild cold comes with a lot of side effects if a person does not drink enough water, as toxins are not properly eliminated.
Dryness of the skin signals that the internal structures are dehydrated due to a disease or do not receive enough fluid.
Dryness and itching in the tear ducts of the eyes indicates that the tubules are dry and it is urgent to drink water.
Heartburn is one of the signs of a violation of the water-salt balance in the body. The concentration of acidity in the gastric juice increases and leads to damage to the mucosa.
Violation of the swallowing reflex occurs with more severe dehydration.
Reducing the volume and darkening of the urine is characteristic of a lack of fluid. This symptom is characteristic of some pathologies. Before sounding the alarm, you should analyze your drinking regimen.
Joint pain due to chronic lack of water. Pain syndrome can occur after physical exertion and at rest, in the elderly and young people. This is because the cartilage tissue is 80% water, and with a lack of fluid, the cartilage dries up and wears out intensively.
A decrease in muscle mass naturally accompanies the process of dehydration. That kind of weight loss won’t work.
Chronic fatigue with insufficient fluid intake is due to the fact that the body begins to borrow it from the blood. The brain receives less oxygen, forming a feeling of weakness even after eight hours of sleep.
Drowsiness goes hand in hand with dehydration. Even very strong coffee will not cheer up if a person does not drink enough water.
Rapid heartbeat is the result of increased blood viscosity. The cause of thickening is the active movement of plasma into the organs.
Memory problems and impairment of short-term memory.

Summing up

Proper drinking regime allows our body to cope with stress more easily, have a healthy complexion and maintain youthful skin. As we age, our body loses more fluid. This must be taken into account when regulating water consumption.

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Fatigue, dizziness and 4 more signs that you are drinking too little water

Lifestyle

In the summer, especially in the heat, it is recommended to drink more water – this is often reminded by doctors. But in practice, not everyone follows this advice. Signs that your body does not have enough water are not obvious, but no less dangerous for this.

July 20, 2021

Source:: pixabay.com

With prolonged heat “over 30”, the risk of dehydration increases significantly – fluid loss needs to be replenished regularly. According to Express, frequent and long-term water deficiency in the body is fraught with serious health problems, including in the long term:

heat exhaustion and heat stroke;
convulsions;
urinary tract infections;
kidney stones;
renal insufficiency;
hypovolemic shock (a condition resulting from a rapid decrease in circulating blood volume).

In a special risk group for the development of dehydration are those suffering from diabetes, intestinal disorders, lovers of alcoholic beverages, athletes.

How to understand that the body does not have enough fluid?

excessive thirst;
dizziness;
atypical fatigue;
feeling of dryness in the mouth, on the lips and in the eyes;
dark yellow urine;
urination less than four times a day.

Symptoms that indicate a critical lack of fluid sometimes go unnoticed for a long time, but they can progress quickly and lead to complications.

6 warning signs of severe fluid deficiency:

Feeling very tired;
Disorientation;
Persistent dizziness that does not go away when standing up;
No urination during the day;
Weak or rapid pulse;
Convulsions.