{"id":578,"date":"2017-06-07T07:19:06","date_gmt":"2017-06-07T07:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=578"},"modified":"2021-03-10T18:42:14","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T18:42:14","slug":"15-signs-dehydration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-signs-dehydration\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Signs of Dehydration"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Did you know that a surprisingly large percentage of the population is chronically dehydrated? It is believed that anywhere up to 75% of Americans spend the vast majority of their time dehydrated and are operating at a deficit as a result.<\/p>\n

Hydration is critically important to our health. Water makes up around 75% of our bodies and it is used in countless crucial functions throughout the body. Water acts as an important catalyst for a number of chemical reactions (including working as an enzyme in order to aid with the digestion of food) and forms the basis of everything from neurotransmitters to our blood.<\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t getting enough water, then this will affect nearly every part of your body \u2013 from your skin and hair to your teeth and nails. And you\u2019ll feel low on energy, struggle with a poor mood and generally not operate at 100%. In this post, we will take a look at the important roles of water and some of the most telling signs that you may be dehydrated.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0CFS<\/h3>\n

Your blood and many other bodily fluids are comprised of water and when you are dehydration, these become thicker and less diluted. That in turn means that you won\u2019t be able to get the necessary oxygen and nutrients around the body as needed. This is just one factor that can make you feel tired, run down and sluggish. Another is a lack of important neurotransmitters and even a lack of nutrients as the gut is less able to digest nutrients due to a lack of digestive enzymes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In short, you can end up feeling lethargic and tired, which is described as CFS \u2013 or chronic fatigue syndrome. If you\u2019re tired and you don\u2019t know why, consider that hydration might be the issue!<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Yellow Urine<\/h3>\n

If your urine appears a strong orange or yellow color, this is a sign that you might be dehydrated. This happens simply because the urine<\/a> is not as well diluted as it would be if you had more water in your system.<\/p>\n

Of course it is important to consider this in context. There are other things that can cause urine to become discoloured \u2013 such as certain medications or even vitamin supplements and some foods.<\/p>\n

But if you have had a long day and you can\u2019t remember the last time you had a drink\u2026 well then you know what is likely going on!<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Constipation<\/h3>\n

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of constipation. That\u2019s because dehydration causes stool to become dried out, which in turn prevents it from passing through the bowels.<\/p>\n

Drinking more water is actually one of the best ways to solve constipation, as is consuming any food that is high in oils such as fish or avocado \u2013 this can help to lubricate the stool and encourage it to pass.<\/p>\n

Prunes are the best of all though. Not only does the insoluble fiber break up the trapped stool but the sorbitol<\/a> content causes the stool to absorb more fluid.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. \u00a0Headaches<\/h3>\n

A headache can have a myriad of causes but one of the most common is for it to be caused by dehydration. When the brain is dehydrated this can actually cause it to shrink due to the lost fluid \u2013 just like a sponge. This then causes the brain to pull away from the skull<\/a>, resulting in discomfort and difficulty thinking.<\/p>\n

Combine this with the lack of water needed for countless chemical reactions and you have a recipe for headache, brain fog and generally poor cognitive performance\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"5. \u00a0Irritability<\/h3>\n

Often this headache and impaired cognitive performance comes along with an irritable mood, which is understandable! You might find yourself experiencing a shorter temper, or perhaps feeling low.<\/p>\n

Dehydration can also lead to inflammation in the brain<\/a>,\u00a0which has recently been linked to depression and other mood disorders.<\/p>\n

Often our mood is linked to our biology so if it\u2019s not dehydration, it might be low blood sugar!<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Brain Fog \u2013 Impaired Memory and Concentration<\/h3>\n

All of this causes brain fog<\/a>, leading to poor concentration, impaired memory and general difficulty getting things done.<\/p>\n

This can negatively impact on your productivity and the amount of work you do in a day and it can also cause you to make mistakes.<\/p>\n

In fact, dehydration can actually be dangerous for this very reason as you become more accident prone \u2013 especially when driving and engaging in other tasks that demand your full attention.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Thirst<\/h3>\n

This might sound obvious but if you feel very thirsty, then there is a good chance that you need more fluids! If your mouth and throat<\/a> feel dry and you are craving juice or water, then don\u2019t deny your body and drink.<\/p>\n

Even if you think you\u2019ve had enough, always listen to your body. Countless factors can lead to you needing more than the recommended 7 glasses of 7 ounces \u2013 including temperature, activity levels and your own body weight. If you\u2019re thirsty, drink!<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Dry Mouth<\/h3>\n

Similar to thirstiness, you might notice that your mouth feels very dry when you are dehydrated. This is because your body needs fluid in order to create saliva, which is what normally moistens the mouth.<\/p>\n

You are most likely to notice this first thing in the morning. You might also find that this can cause you to struggle eating certain foods and that it leads to halitosis<\/a>. That\u2019s because saliva serves a number of important roles: acting as the first stage in your digestion to help you dissolve and break up food via enzymes and also helping you to clean your mouth and kill bacteria with its antiseptic properties.<\/p>\n

Seeing as bad breath is caused by bacteria, it follows that a lack of hydration can cause it to get worse. In the long term, consistent dehydration can cause you to increase your likelihood of tooth decay.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Cracking Lips and Hands<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re dehydrated this can make its way into your skin<\/a>, resulting in the appearance of cracks forming on your knuckles and your lips.<\/p>\n

This can be unattractive as well as itchy and painful and if you scratch, it will break open and lead to bleeding. For these reasons, you need to not only hydrate with plenty of fluids but also use moisturising creams to keep your skin soft.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Dry Eyes<\/h3>\n

Your eyes can also dry out as a result of your tear ducts not having the fluid they need to create moisture. This can result in them looking red and blood shot and actually dehydration<\/a> is one of the most common causes of bloodshot eyes. You might also notice that if you cry, not as many tears come out!<\/p>\n

Oh and just to make things worse, dehydration is also one of the reasons for bags appearing under the eyes and giving you that puffy look. It\u2019s actually highly responsible for us looking rough first thing in the morning! If you want to wake up looking stunning, drink more!<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Indigestion<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve already discussed that moisture is used to break down food and to create the important enzymes that help to further this process in the gut and throughout the intestines<\/a>. It should come as no surprise then to learn that dehydration can lead to indigestion, heart burn and a myriad of other difficulties.<\/p>\n

If you are suffering with indigestion, one of the best things you can often do is actually just to drink some cool water!<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Cramp<\/h3>\n

Dehydration is responsible for cramp as it alters the balance of electrolytes. It is the ratio of electrolytes like sodium, calcium and potassium, along with the amount of water in your system, that is responsible for keeping your muscles functional.<\/p>\n

When you become dehydrated and that ratio is skewed, you can end up experiencing cramping and spasming which can be very painful. This is especially common at night, following exercise and especially when swimming \u2013 all times when you are likely to be dehydrated!<\/p>\n

The best way to solve this problem is with an isotonic<\/a> drink \u2013 that\u2019s a drink that has the exact same balance of electrolytes and water as is found in human blood.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Rapid Heartrate<\/h3>\n

If you are very dehydrated then your body will start to struggle. Blood pressure will be likely to decrease, the heartrate will increase and breathing will also become more rapid. At the same time, body temperature<\/a> is likely to go up, which the body will then fight to try and cool back down.<\/p>\n

Past a point, dehydration actually becomes incredible dangerous. This is why it should alarm you to learn that one study found that 25% of children don\u2019t drink any water as part of their fluid intake.<\/p>\n

Remember: coffee, tea and alcohol all make you more dehydrated.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. \u00a0Urinary Tract Infections<\/h3>\n

Urinary tract infections<\/a> become more common for those that are dehydrated. There are obvious reasons for this: essentially when we are dehydrated we will of course be likely to need the toilet less often. Not only that but the urine is less diluted as we have already seen.<\/p>\n

For both these reasons, bacteria that should be flushed out can end up multiplying in the urinary tract, thereby leading to an infection.<\/p>\n

There are many cause of urinary tract infection but if you find you have the condition chronically, then you may benefit from assessing your drinking habits.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. \u00a0Inability to Lose Weight<\/h3>\n

Finally, those that don\u2019t drink enough water might just find they struggle to lose weight. Being dehydrated will instantly slow down the rate at which your body burns calories and that of course makes it much harder for you to burn fat while exercising.<\/p>\n

Not only that but dehydration is likely to cause you to look more overweight in the short term too.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because not drinking enough encourages the cells to store more water and this gives you a puffy look that appears like fat. Simply being better hydrated can make you instantly appear more toned.<\/p>\n

Drinking more water and staying away from salt is the best way to avoid this affect. And the best way to be generally healthy, happy, full of energy and slim is to keep drinking plenty of cold water<\/a> whenever you get the urge!<\/p>\n\r\n

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