Will Dehydration Cause Dizziness? Understanding Vertigo Symptoms and Prevention
Can dehydration lead to vertigo. What are the symptoms of dehydration-induced dizziness. How can you prevent and treat dehydration-related vertigo. What causes dehydration and its associated symptoms.
The Connection Between Dehydration and Dizziness
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in, affecting various bodily functions. One of the notable symptoms of dehydration is dizziness, which can manifest in different forms, including vertigo – a spinning sensation. Understanding this connection is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being.
What Does Dehydration-Induced Dizziness Feel Like?
Dizziness caused by dehydration can present itself in several ways:
- Lightheadedness
- Unsteadiness
- Wooziness
- Faintness
In some cases, dehydration may lead to vertigo, characterized by:
- A spinning sensation
- Feeling of floating
- Swaying or tilting sensations
The Physiology of Dehydration-Related Vertigo
Dehydration can impact various bodily systems, particularly circulation. When the body lacks sufficient fluids, it can lead to:
- Reduced blood pressure
- Lower blood volume
These changes may result in inadequate blood flow to the brain, potentially causing dizziness or vertigo. While lightheadedness is more common with low blood pressure due to dehydration, the spinning sensation of vertigo can occur in some instances.
Is Vertigo Always Caused by Dehydration?
No, vertigo is not always caused by dehydration. Other conditions that can lead to vertigo include:
- Inner ear problems
- Migraine headaches
- Certain neurological disorders
It’s important to consider these potential causes when experiencing vertigo, especially if hydration doesn’t alleviate the symptoms.
Recognizing the Signs of Dehydration
Identifying dehydration early can help prevent its progression and associated symptoms. Common signs of dehydration include:
- Increased thirst
- Reduced urination frequency
- Dark-colored urine
- Constipation
- Dry mouth, lips, or skin
- Fatigue
- Headache
How Does Dehydration Affect Urination?
Dehydration significantly impacts urination patterns. When the body is dehydrated:
- The kidneys retain more fluids, resulting in less frequent urination
- Urine becomes more concentrated, appearing darker in color
These changes in urination are the body’s way of conserving water and maintaining essential functions.
Managing Dehydration-Induced Dizziness
If you experience dizziness due to dehydration, take the following steps to alleviate symptoms:
- Rehydrate immediately with water or electrolyte-rich fluids
- Sit down to prevent falls and allow symptoms to subside
- Move slowly when symptoms begin to improve
- Avoid activities that could be dangerous while dizzy, such as driving or operating machinery
Which Fluids Are Best for Rehydration?
While water is the primary choice for rehydration, other beneficial options include:
- Sports drinks containing electrolytes
- Oral rehydration solutions
- Coconut water
- Herbal teas (non-caffeinated)
These fluids can help replenish both water and essential electrolytes lost through dehydration.
Preventing Dehydration and Associated Vertigo
Preventing dehydration is key to avoiding its symptoms, including dizziness and vertigo. Consider the following strategies:
- Drink water regularly throughout the day
- Increase fluid intake during hot weather or physical activity
- Monitor urine color as an indicator of hydration status
- Consume water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables
- Limit alcohol and caffeine intake, as they can contribute to dehydration
How Much Water Should You Drink Daily?
The amount of water needed varies based on factors such as age, gender, activity level, and climate. However, general guidelines suggest:
- For men: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids daily
- For women: About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids daily
Remember, these amounts include fluids from all sources, including food and beverages.
Recognizing Severe Dehydration: When to Seek Medical Help
While mild dehydration can often be treated at home, severe dehydration requires immediate medical attention. Watch for these warning signs:
- Rapid heart rate
- Confusion or disorientation
- Difficulty walking or moving
- Persistent diarrhea or vomiting (lasting over 24 hours)
- Severe dizziness or fainting
- Very dark urine or no urine output
Can Dehydration Lead to Long-Term Health Issues?
Chronic dehydration can potentially lead to several health complications:
- Kidney problems, including kidney stones
- Urinary tract infections
- Digestive issues
- Heat injury
- Seizures in severe cases
Maintaining proper hydration is crucial for preventing these long-term health risks.
Special Considerations for Dehydration Risk
Certain groups are at higher risk for dehydration and its symptoms:
- Older adults
- Young children
- People with chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes)
- Athletes and individuals who exercise intensely
- Those living in hot climates
These groups should pay extra attention to their hydration status and take preventive measures.
How Does Age Affect Dehydration Risk?
Age plays a significant role in dehydration risk:
- Older adults: May have a reduced sense of thirst and decreased kidney function
- Young children: Have a higher surface area to body mass ratio, leading to quicker fluid loss
Both groups require special attention to ensure adequate hydration.
The Role of Electrolytes in Hydration and Dizziness Prevention
Electrolytes are essential for proper hydration and bodily functions. Key electrolytes include:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Chloride
These minerals help regulate fluid balance, nerve signals, and muscle contractions, all of which can impact dizziness and vertigo symptoms.
How Can You Replenish Electrolytes Naturally?
Natural sources of electrolytes include:
- Bananas (potassium)
- Leafy greens (magnesium, calcium)
- Coconut water (potassium, sodium)
- Nuts and seeds (magnesium)
- Yogurt (calcium, sodium)
Incorporating these foods into your diet can help maintain electrolyte balance and support proper hydration.
Understanding the connection between dehydration and dizziness, including vertigo, is crucial for maintaining overall health. By recognizing the signs of dehydration, taking steps to prevent it, and knowing when to seek medical help, you can minimize the risk of experiencing these uncomfortable symptoms. Remember to stay hydrated, especially during hot weather or physical activity, and pay attention to your body’s signals. If you experience persistent or severe dizziness, consult a healthcare professional to rule out other potential causes and receive appropriate treatment.
Can Dehydration Cause Vertigo? Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention
Water is vital to our health and well-being. In fact, about 60 percent of our body weight is made up of water.
Dehydration happens when you lose more water than you take in. When this happens, your body doesn’t have enough water to effectively carry out critical tasks like breathing, digestion, and other essential functions.
Although you can become dehydrated simply by not drinking enough water, it can also happen due to:
- being sick with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea
- increased sweating from exercise or from being out in hot, humid weather
- excess urination, which can happen due to conditions like diabetes or by taking certain medications, such as diuretics or certain blood pressure medications
There are several symptoms of dehydration. One of these is dizziness which can be felt in several different ways, including as a spinning sensation known as vertigo.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at vertigo due to dehydration and other symptoms to look out for. We’ll also explore the steps you can take to prevent dehydration.
Dehydration can lead to dizziness. When you’re dizzy, you may feel:
- lightheaded
- unsteady
- woozy
- faint
If you’re dehydrated, it’s also possible that you could experience a specific type of dizziness known as vertigo. When you have vertigo, you feel as if you or your surroundings are spinning. Other sensations associated with vertigo include:
- floating
- swaying
- tilting
When you experience dizziness or vertigo, you may also feel:
- nausea
- the need to sit or lie down
- worsening symptoms when you stand or move
However, it’s important to note that there are other conditions besides dehydration that can cause vertigo, such as inner ear problems and migraine.
You may be wondering why vertigo happens when you’re dehydrated. Let’s examine this in more detail.
When you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t have enough fluids to function effectively. This can have an impact on many parts of your body, including your circulation.
People who are dehydrated often have reduced blood pressure or lower blood volume. When this happens, blood may not reach your brain in the way that it should. This can lead to feelings of dizziness or vertigo.
Most of the time, the dizziness caused by low blood pressure isn’t a vertigo-like feeling. Instead, low blood pressure due to dehydration typically causes a lightheaded feeling, like you’d pass out if it got worse.
But there may be instances where low blood pressure could cause the spinning sensation of vertigo. It’s just not as common as feeling lightheaded.
Some other dehydration symptoms to watch out for include:
- Thirst. Feeling thirsty is your body’s way of telling you that you need to drink more fluids.
- Reduced urination. When you’re dehydrated, your body will signal your kidneys to retain fluids. Because of this, you’ll likely urinate less frequently.
- Dark urine. If you’re well-hydrated, you urine is typically clear or pale yellow. Dark urine indicates that your urine has become more concentrated.
- Constipation. Your large intestine (colon) is responsible for absorbing water from your food. When you don’t have enough fluids, your stools may become harder and more difficult to pass.
- Dry mouth, lips, or skin. As your body loses fluids, you may notice dryness, flaking, and cracking of your lips and skin.
- Fatigue. Being dehydrated makes it harder for your body to carry out its normal functions. Because of this, you may feel lethargic or more tired than usual.
- Headache. Headache due to dehydration is pretty common. A small 2004 study found that 1 in 10 study participants experienced headache due to dehydration. This was relieved by drinking water.
If you’re feeling dizzy due to dehydration, you can take the following steps to help ease your symptoms:
- Rehydrate. Try to replenish lost fluids as soon as possible. Focus on drinking water. Sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions can also be helpful for restoring lost electrolytes.
- Sit down. Move into a sitting position until your feelings of dizziness pass. When you begin to feel better, get up slowly.
- Move slowly. Remember that dizziness and vertigo can increase your risk of falling. If you must move, do so slowly. Try to hold onto something in case you lose your balance.
- Avoid certain activities. Some activities can be dangerous when you’re feeling dizzy. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or climbing up onto anything.
When to seek medical attention
There are some warning signs to watch out for that could be an indication that dehydration has become more serious. Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one:
- has a rapid heart rate
- feels confused or disoriented
- has trouble walking or moving around
- has diarrhea or vomiting that lasts longer than 24 hours
Severe dehydration can cause serious complications, such as:
- urinary and kidney problems
- seizures due to low levels of sodium and potassium
- heat exhaustion or heatstroke
- hypovolemic shock, a life threatening condition that’s caused by low blood volume
Dehydration can be treated in a hospital with intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes.
The following tips can help you stay hydrated throughout the day.
Get enough water
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are no specific recommendations on daily water intake.
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, drinking 8 glasses of water per day is a reasonable goal for most people.
Additionally, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine notes that an adequate daily fluid intake is:
- 2.7 liters (91 ounces) each day for women
- 3.7 liters (125 ounces) each day for men
Your daily fluid intake doesn’t just include the water you drink but also fluids that you get from other foods and beverages, such as:
- fruits with high water content like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, and oranges
- vegetables with high water content, such as lettuce, cabbage, and celery
- low-sodium broths and soups
- beverages like fat-free milk, herbal tea, juices, and sports drinks
Keep water on hand
Try to always have ready access to water. If you find that you often forget to hydrate, it may be helpful to make a habit of carrying a reusable water bottle with you.
Having water easily available is especially important when:
- you’re exercising
- the weather is hot or humid
- you’re doing anything to make you sweat more than usual
Hydrate more when you’re ill
If you become sick with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, be sure to drink additional fluids. Don’t wait until you’re already feeling dehydrated to have a drink of water.
There are other potential causes of vertigo. Many of these causes involve problems with your inner ear, which helps control your sense of balance. Inner ear conditions that can cause vertigo include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a condition where changes in the positioning of your head can lead to brief periods of vertigo
- Meniere’s disease, a rare inner-ear condition that involves tinnitus and hearing loss
- labyrinthitis, an inflammation of the fluid-filled passages of your inner ear
- vestibular neuritis, an inflammation of the vestibular nerve in your inner ear
Other conditions that can also cause vertigo include:
- migraine
- stroke
- multiple sclerosis
- head injuries
- brain tumors
- certain types of medication, such as seizure and epilepsy medications and salicylates
One of the potential symptoms of dehydration is dizziness. You may feel lightheaded or woozy. In some cases, you may also feel as if you or your surroundings are spinning or tilting. This is known as vertigo.
If you’re dehydrated and dizzy, try to drink fluids right away. Carefully move into a sitting position to avoid falling. When your dizziness passes, be sure to get up slowly.
You can prevent dehydration by taking in fluids throughout the day. You’ll need to hydrate more during exercise, in hot or humid weather conditions, and when you’re sick. If you or a loved one is severely dehydrated, be sure to get immediate medical care.
Can Dehydration Cause Vertigo? Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention
Water is vital to our health and well-being. In fact, about 60 percent of our body weight is made up of water.
Dehydration happens when you lose more water than you take in. When this happens, your body doesn’t have enough water to effectively carry out critical tasks like breathing, digestion, and other essential functions.
Although you can become dehydrated simply by not drinking enough water, it can also happen due to:
- being sick with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea
- increased sweating from exercise or from being out in hot, humid weather
- excess urination, which can happen due to conditions like diabetes or by taking certain medications, such as diuretics or certain blood pressure medications
There are several symptoms of dehydration. One of these is dizziness which can be felt in several different ways, including as a spinning sensation known as vertigo.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at vertigo due to dehydration and other symptoms to look out for. We’ll also explore the steps you can take to prevent dehydration.
Dehydration can lead to dizziness. When you’re dizzy, you may feel:
- lightheaded
- unsteady
- woozy
- faint
If you’re dehydrated, it’s also possible that you could experience a specific type of dizziness known as vertigo. When you have vertigo, you feel as if you or your surroundings are spinning. Other sensations associated with vertigo include:
- floating
- swaying
- tilting
When you experience dizziness or vertigo, you may also feel:
- nausea
- the need to sit or lie down
- worsening symptoms when you stand or move
However, it’s important to note that there are other conditions besides dehydration that can cause vertigo, such as inner ear problems and migraine.
You may be wondering why vertigo happens when you’re dehydrated. Let’s examine this in more detail.
When you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t have enough fluids to function effectively. This can have an impact on many parts of your body, including your circulation.
People who are dehydrated often have reduced blood pressure or lower blood volume. When this happens, blood may not reach your brain in the way that it should. This can lead to feelings of dizziness or vertigo.
Most of the time, the dizziness caused by low blood pressure isn’t a vertigo-like feeling. Instead, low blood pressure due to dehydration typically causes a lightheaded feeling, like you’d pass out if it got worse.
But there may be instances where low blood pressure could cause the spinning sensation of vertigo. It’s just not as common as feeling lightheaded.
Some other dehydration symptoms to watch out for include:
- Thirst. Feeling thirsty is your body’s way of telling you that you need to drink more fluids.
- Reduced urination. When you’re dehydrated, your body will signal your kidneys to retain fluids. Because of this, you’ll likely urinate less frequently.
- Dark urine. If you’re well-hydrated, you urine is typically clear or pale yellow. Dark urine indicates that your urine has become more concentrated.
- Constipation. Your large intestine (colon) is responsible for absorbing water from your food. When you don’t have enough fluids, your stools may become harder and more difficult to pass.
- Dry mouth, lips, or skin. As your body loses fluids, you may notice dryness, flaking, and cracking of your lips and skin.
- Fatigue. Being dehydrated makes it harder for your body to carry out its normal functions. Because of this, you may feel lethargic or more tired than usual.
- Headache. Headache due to dehydration is pretty common. A small 2004 study found that 1 in 10 study participants experienced headache due to dehydration. This was relieved by drinking water.
If you’re feeling dizzy due to dehydration, you can take the following steps to help ease your symptoms:
- Rehydrate. Try to replenish lost fluids as soon as possible. Focus on drinking water. Sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions can also be helpful for restoring lost electrolytes.
- Sit down. Move into a sitting position until your feelings of dizziness pass. When you begin to feel better, get up slowly.
- Move slowly. Remember that dizziness and vertigo can increase your risk of falling. If you must move, do so slowly. Try to hold onto something in case you lose your balance.
- Avoid certain activities. Some activities can be dangerous when you’re feeling dizzy. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or climbing up onto anything.
When to seek medical attention
There are some warning signs to watch out for that could be an indication that dehydration has become more serious. Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one:
- has a rapid heart rate
- feels confused or disoriented
- has trouble walking or moving around
- has diarrhea or vomiting that lasts longer than 24 hours
Severe dehydration can cause serious complications, such as:
- urinary and kidney problems
- seizures due to low levels of sodium and potassium
- heat exhaustion or heatstroke
- hypovolemic shock, a life threatening condition that’s caused by low blood volume
Dehydration can be treated in a hospital with intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes.
The following tips can help you stay hydrated throughout the day.
Get enough water
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are no specific recommendations on daily water intake.
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, drinking 8 glasses of water per day is a reasonable goal for most people.
Additionally, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine notes that an adequate daily fluid intake is:
- 2.7 liters (91 ounces) each day for women
- 3.7 liters (125 ounces) each day for men
Your daily fluid intake doesn’t just include the water you drink but also fluids that you get from other foods and beverages, such as:
- fruits with high water content like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, and oranges
- vegetables with high water content, such as lettuce, cabbage, and celery
- low-sodium broths and soups
- beverages like fat-free milk, herbal tea, juices, and sports drinks
Keep water on hand
Try to always have ready access to water. If you find that you often forget to hydrate, it may be helpful to make a habit of carrying a reusable water bottle with you.
Having water easily available is especially important when:
- you’re exercising
- the weather is hot or humid
- you’re doing anything to make you sweat more than usual
Hydrate more when you’re ill
If you become sick with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, be sure to drink additional fluids. Don’t wait until you’re already feeling dehydrated to have a drink of water.
There are other potential causes of vertigo. Many of these causes involve problems with your inner ear, which helps control your sense of balance. Inner ear conditions that can cause vertigo include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a condition where changes in the positioning of your head can lead to brief periods of vertigo
- Meniere’s disease, a rare inner-ear condition that involves tinnitus and hearing loss
- labyrinthitis, an inflammation of the fluid-filled passages of your inner ear
- vestibular neuritis, an inflammation of the vestibular nerve in your inner ear
Other conditions that can also cause vertigo include:
- migraine
- stroke
- multiple sclerosis
- head injuries
- brain tumors
- certain types of medication, such as seizure and epilepsy medications and salicylates
One of the potential symptoms of dehydration is dizziness. You may feel lightheaded or woozy. In some cases, you may also feel as if you or your surroundings are spinning or tilting. This is known as vertigo.
If you’re dehydrated and dizzy, try to drink fluids right away. Carefully move into a sitting position to avoid falling. When your dizziness passes, be sure to get up slowly.
You can prevent dehydration by taking in fluids throughout the day. You’ll need to hydrate more during exercise, in hot or humid weather conditions, and when you’re sick. If you or a loved one is severely dehydrated, be sure to get immediate medical care.
Why is dehydration dangerous?
Dehydration is a pathological condition in which the body uses or loses more fluid than it receives. Due to the lack of water and other fluids, our body is unable to perform its functions 100%. This condition can develop absolutely in each of us, but it poses the greatest danger to children and the elderly.
According to biology professor Randel Packer, many variables determine how long a person can live without water. Under the most extreme conditions, death occurs very quickly. For example, a child left in a hot car or an athlete exercising in the heat can become dehydrated, overheat, and die within hours. This is due to the fact that at high temperatures a person loses 1-1.5 liters of fluid per hour. At the same time, an adult who is in a comfortable environment can live a week or even more.
In order to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluid), a person must maintain water balance. This means that the lost fluid must be replaced. We get it from drinks (water, juices, tea, milk) and solid foods (cucumbers, watermelons, oranges), and we lose it with sweat, urine and feces.
Our body loses fluid even when we do not notice it. Since we exhale air that is saturated with water, we also lose fluid with each exhalation. This can be seen on cold days when water condenses as vapor coming out of the mouth.
Under normal conditions, an average adult loses 1.5 to 2.5 liters of fluid per day. We lose it:
- With urine – 1-2 liters per day,
- With sweat and breath – 0.5-1 liter per day,
- With feces – 50-100 ml per day.
Sometimes this condition develops due to elementary reasons – a person simply does not drink enough liquid. This happens for the following reasons:
- Heavy workload at work (no time),
- Lack of access to water during travel or other activities,
- Inability of infants to say they are thirsty,
- If a person has a sore throat or mouth sores, they may avoid drinking because of pain,
- Some elderly people do not have access to water or need the help of an outside person (bring water, tea, milk),
- If a person has a reduced feeling of hunger or thirst, he may also “underdrink” his daily fluid intake.
Other common causes of dehydration include:
- Diarrhea or vomiting. Severe, sudden diarrhea causes massive loss of fluid and electrolytes in a short period of time. If a person vomits along with diarrhea, they lose even more water and minerals. By the way, this is why gastroenterologists often repeat the mantra “If you have diarrhea, drink plenty of water.”
- Temperature increase. In general, the higher the body temperature, the greater the chance of getting dehydrated. Well, if the temperature appears along with diarrhea and vomiting, a person loses fluid at a rapid pace.
- Increased perspiration. When we sweat, our body loses fluid. This is especially true during the warm season and during training. If a person trains for a long time and / or intensively, but at the same time does not replenish fluid reserves, he develops dehydration. If you play sports in the heat or high humidity, the loss of fluid through sweat increases even more. Don’t be afraid to drink water while exercising if you want to lose weight. Any competent nutritionist will tell you that liquid is essential when losing weight, and refusing it for fear of gaining weight is a huge mistake.
- Frequent urination. This may be due to undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes. Also, the use of certain drugs, such as diuretics or drugs for hypertension, leads to increased urination.
How to recognize signs of dehydration in time?
Symptoms vary depending on how long the person has been without adequate fluid intake. In addition, each of us is individual, so the signs of violation will differ from person to person.
In the earliest stages, a person either feels thirsty or feels nothing at all. With a mild or moderate degree of this disorder, several mild symptoms of dehydration appear. These may include:
- Thirst,
- Dry and/or clammy mouth,
- Less frequent urination, with urine becoming more concentrated, more orange in color,
- Constipation,
- Reduced production tears,
- Slightly sunken baby’s eyes,
- Fatigue,
- Dry skin,
- Headache,
- Dizziness.
Severe dehydration causes more severe symptoms such as:
- Lack of tears and sweat,
- Insufficient or no urine,
- Urine becomes even darker,
- Extra little thirst,
- Very severe dryness during mouth and mucous membranes,
- Dry skin, reduced skin turgor (poor elasticity),
- Significantly sunken eyes and fontanelles in an infant,
- Rapid breathing,
- Rapid heartbeat,
- Low blood pressure,
- Confusion of thoughts, and in critical cases, loss of consciousness.
All these signs of dehydration are a signal that you need to take measures to restore water and electrolyte balance. If a person shows severe symptoms, you should immediately call an ambulance.
Why is dehydration dangerous?
This condition should not be underestimated, because it can lead to such complications:
- Overheating of the body. If you train hard and sweat a lot, but do not replace the loss of fluid, the body can overheat. With a mild degree of overheating, convulsions appear, and with a severe degree, a person risks facing a life-threatening condition – heat stroke.
- Kidney or urination problems. Prolonged or repeated dehydration can lead to urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and even kidney failure.
- Seizures. Electrolytes such as potassium and sodium help carry electrical signals from cell to cell. If the electrolyte balance is disturbed (one of the consequences of dehydration), confusion occurs in the transmission of electrical signals. This leads to involuntary muscle contractions and sometimes loss of consciousness.
- Reduced blood volume (hypovolemic shock). This is one of the most serious consequences of dehydration and can be fatal. In this case, due to a decrease in blood volume, blood pressure drops, and the amount of oxygen in the body decreases.
What to do about dehydration?
The only effective treatment is to restore lost fluids and electrolytes. The best way to do this depends on the age of the person, the severity of the condition, and its cause.
Oral rehydration solutions are used for infants and children who lose fluid due to diarrhea, vomiting, or fever. These solutions contain water and salts in certain proportions, due to which they replenish both fluid and electrolytes. It is recommended to start with a teaspoon (5 ml), which should be given to the child every 1-5 minutes and gradually increase the volume. For very young children, a syringe may be used. Older children can be given water-diluted sports drinks that contain not only water but also electrolytes.
What to do about dehydration in adults?
Most adults with mild or moderate impairment due to diarrhea, vomiting, or fever can improve by drinking more water or other fluids. Concentrated fruit juices and soft drinks can only make diarrhea worse, so it’s best to avoid them.
If you are working or exercising outside in hot weather, cool water is the best choice. Another good option is sports drinks, which contain carbohydrates and electrolytes.
In case of severe dehydration, do not rely on home treatment. Call 911 immediately if you have symptoms. In this case, the patient needs an urgent restoration of water and electrolytes, which can only be achieved with the help of intravenous solutions.
Sources:
- Dehydration, Mayo Clinic,
- Dehydration, American Association for Clinical Chemistry,
- How Long Can the Average Person Survive Without Water, Scientific American,
- How Long Can a Person Survive Without Water, Live Science.
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Dizziness, or, as it is also called, vertigo, occurs in people of all ages. You must have had this feeling when the whole world is spinning around and the floor is slipping out from under your feet. The causes of dizziness are very different – a sharp aroma, atmospheric pressure drop, stress, physical activity. The danger of vertigo is a possible lack of coordination of movements and loss of balance. In addition, dizziness can cause serious illness, in which case it is important to get the right treatment as soon as possible.
When dizziness is dangerous: causes of dizziness, when to go to the doctor
Causes of dizziness may indicate the presence of some life-threatening diseases. It is not worth postponing a visit to the doctor and a subsequent medical examination if you often feel dizzy. The sooner you take action, the more effective the result will be. Having discovered the problem, doctors will help get rid of dizziness by applying various therapies.
If dizziness occurs infrequently and lasts a few seconds, the causes of dizziness at normal pressure cannot bother a healthy person. But if severe dizziness occurs, its causes should be investigated by physicians. Doctors talk about life-threatening causes of lightheadedness that suggest a health problem.
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Sometimes severe dizziness occurs, its causes may be alcohol intoxication, heat stroke, excessive exercise, some ear diseases, anemia, which is accompanied by a low iron content in the blood, hypoglycemia – low blood sugar.
Vertigo refers to causes that are symptoms of life-threatening health problems.
Causes of constant dizziness
The state of dizziness causes discomfort, you need to find out the reasons. If you often feel dizzy, and this condition lasts for several minutes, you should check the condition of the inner ear. Some viral infections of the vestibular nerve, located in the inner ear, can cause frequent lightheadedness that manifests itself in constant dizziness.
If you experience constant dizziness, you need to know the causes and take the treatment prescribed by a specialist. If ignored, the problem can be life-threatening. Such diseases are often asymptomatic, and then can affect the brain, nervous system and lead to death.
With dizziness, there is a sharp weakness, there are problems with speech
If there is dizziness and nausea, the causes of this condition under normal pressure may come from a stroke. Such a case is accompanied by numbness of some parts of the body, the onset of weakness, and in parallel there are problems with speech and vision.
If weakness and dizziness increase, it is worth looking for the causes in violation of cerebral circulation. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in our country after a heart attack. If the person has this type of dizziness, invite them to smile as hard as they can. If the smile is not symmetrical, immediately call an ambulance. It is possible that this is a classic case of a stroke.
Causes of dizziness when standing up
If dizziness occurs when standing up, it is necessary to find out the causes. Sometimes this condition demonstrates short-term hypotension. This is a decrease in blood pressure in the body, including in the brain, which leads to lightheadedness.
Dizziness and pressure may be related and the reasons for this may lie in a banal lack of fluid in the body. Even mild dehydration thickens the blood. This condition is especially acute when standing up, lifting, when raising the legs above the line of the heart. It is very simple to change the situation: drink more fluids, especially in summer and during active physical exertion.
Causes of dizziness after hitting the head
If loss of coordination and dizziness occurs, investigate the causes. If this condition was preceded by a blow to the head or a bruise to the head, a concussion can be assumed. This can happen during an accidental fall, in minutes of playing sports, at the moment of hitting the ball on the head. Almost immediately, with a concussion, faintness attacks begin.
Constant headaches and dizziness can last for days and the reasons for this lie in the contusion of the brain. You should definitely see a doctor. Even in the absence of external injuries and wounds, the specialist will exclude hemorrhage or swelling of the brain, which can lead to the most serious consequences.
Causes of dizziness during exercise
Sports can bring not only pleasure, but also dizziness, reminiscent of a state of intoxication, when you need to urgently look for causes. They can be very different, ranging from stress, excessive exercise, lack of fluid in the body, hunger to symptoms of serious diseases of the cardiovascular system.
If frequent dizziness occurs during exercise, exclude causes related to heart and vascular disease. To do this, you need to visit a cardiologist as soon as possible, undergo the necessary examination and, if the disease is confirmed, follow all the recommendations of doctors.
Causes of dizziness in women
Often, dizziness is accompanied by nausea and weakness, and identifying its causes is quite simple. Dizziness is not uncommon, and its causes in women can be very different. For example, workaholism can be the culprit.
If you get lost for days on end at a stressful and difficult job, eating candy bars or sandwiches from a vending machine in the office, only being outdoors on the way from the office to the subway, such an ailment may well become your best friend. Causes of dizziness in women after a busy day are becoming commonplace. In this case, in addition to vertigo, even fainting occurs. It is especially dangerous if this happens to you in the same subway, on the street or in the bathroom. But workaholism is far from the only cause of poor health. So why is your head spinning?
Abundant periods. Blood loss and iron deficiency is a common cause of severe dizziness in women. If you notice that you feel weak during critical days, tell your gynecologist about it. If severe dizziness occurs, look for the reasons with the doctor, this happens to women. Your doctor may prescribe hormonal contraceptives to stabilize the situation, or simply prescribe suitable iron supplements.
Anemia. Another reason that can be accompanied by both heavy menstruation and other problems. Low hemoglobin often provokes fatigue and weakness. Anemia and iron deficiency with it are the main causes of dizziness and pain during critical days.
And when dizziness, nausea, weakness still occur, what are the causes of these phenomena in women?
Pregnancy. It is pregnancy that often causes nausea and dizziness. In this case, the disease will go away on its own with the onset of the next trimester – or after childbirth, after all.
Osteochondrosis. Sedentary work often causes pain in the neck, which, in turn, makes it feel like the world is slipping out from under your feet due to clamps and poor blood circulation. The causes of dizziness in women with normal pressure often lie in this disease. The drugs prescribed by the doctor, special gymnastics, massages, compresses can come to the rescue.
The stronger sex may experience similar dizziness, the causes in men may also lie in osteochondrosis. In any case, you need to see a doctor.
Psychological illnesses. For example, some problems associated with a disorder of the nervous system, as well as panic attacks and phobias. The causes of dizziness in the elderly can be observed precisely with such diseases.
Migraines. Frequent headaches may be accompanied by vertigo. Dizziness is a frequent companion if the cause is migraine in women after 50 years of age. To treat this condition, special therapy is required, it is prescribed only by a doctor after a complete examination.
Diseases of the brain. Most likely, everything is in order with your brain. But still, it is worth mentioning that sometimes vertigo is a symptom of serious diseases, such as a brain tumor.