What is Dehydration? If your body can not function properly due to lack of fluids then dehydration occurs. Common causes of dehydration include sweating, diarrhea and vomiting. The seriousness of dehydration may be differed in adults and children. Dehydration may occur in any age group. This article covers common signs of dehydration along with causes and how to combat them.
Table of Contents
Common Signs of Dehydration
The signs of dehydration include:
In Young Child
- Dry mouth and tongue
- No tears when crying
- No wet diapers for a long time
- Sunken eyes, cheeks
- Nausea or headaches
- Dark yellow or brown urine
In Adults
- Thirst
- Reduced urine output
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Confusion
- A dry mouth
- Having dark colored, strong smelling urine
When you need to contact your doctor:
You should go to your family doctor if you notice following health problems-
- Diarrhea for 24 hours or more
- Feeling sleepy
- Bloody or black stool
Causes of Dehydration
Causes of dehydration include:
- A fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Peeing a lot
- Forget to drink enough due to busy schedule
- You don’t notice when you are thirsty
- After strenuous exercise, especially in hot weather
- Certain medicines such as diuretics
- As a complication of diabetes
Serious Complications of Dehydration
Dehydration can lead to severe complications including:
- Seizures
- Swelling of the brain
- Kidney failure
- Shock
- Coma and even death
How To Combat Dehydration
- Drink Plenty of Fluids – The people should aim to drink 6-8 cups or glasses of fluids a day. It includes fresh water or other liquids such as milk, coffee, tea, soup and juice.
- Eat Water-Rich Foods- You may include these 21 water-rich foods in your diet.
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Watercress
- Apples
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Broth
- Zucchini
- Strawberries
- Cantaloupe
- Oranges
- Skim milk
- Plain yogurt
- Bell peppers
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Grapefruit
- Coconut Water
- Cottage chesse
Monitor Urine Color and Output:
If the color of your urine is a pale shade of yellow or clear then it is good signal for your health. You should drink more water each day to get normal urine output.
Dress Appropriately For The Weather:
We should wear light colored clothes in hot weather than dark colored clothes. Dark colored clothes absorb more heat than light colored clothes. We can try to wear white, yellow, pink and light blue clothes.
Take Breaks During Physical Activity:
To prevent dehydration during physical activity you may take breaks and drink enough fluids. It will also help you to maintain performance and endurance.
Use Medicines:
There are many dehydration tablets available in the market to prevent dehydration. You may use Electrolyte tablets to ensure proper hydration.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, dehydration can make you feel more tired and it becomes a serious health problem if occurring for a long time. A simple solution to avoid dehydration is just dinking more water regularly along with other fluids and water rich foods. Don’t forget to see your doctor for moderate or severe dehydration.
Also Read: 10 Reasons to Start Drinking Hot Water Today