Hi Everyone - my blog has been down for a year and a half, but I am up and excited to share with you!
Hot, hot, and more hot! This summer has been unbelievable so far. I hope water, shade and cool indoors has been your friend. We all need to not only be aware of our body's need for water but also watch those around you. When we babysat our grandkids a few weeks ago, I noticed my granddaughter's diaper was hardly wet. We were in extreme heat and very active so I pumped her with water and watcher her closely. I am so glad I had warnings like that so I could quickly resolve her need for fluid. Little ones and older people are so vulnerable this time of year, so let's all watch out for each other; but at the same, time enjoy the rest of your summer!
I love this 10 symptoms I've attached. Please take time to read.
Lynette
10
Dehydration Symptoms
Published on Monday, October 19th, 2015 @ 5:44 pm
Health Team
Prerna
Dehydration (hypohydration) is a condition, wherein the loss of
fluids (water) exceeds fluid intake. Even a minor change in the fluid
concentrations can result in dehydration. It is, therefore, important to top-up on H2O
as you lose it, else you will become chronically dehydrated (which can cause
death). Some of the common causes of
dehydration are fever and immense sweating; intense workout, primarily in summers; and diarrhea. Anyone may suffer from dehydration, but older
people and young children are most susceptible to this condition. Dehydration is likely to cause a number of
signs and symptoms that range from moderate to severe. Thankfully, your body
will let you if it happens.
1. Bad breath
Your breath may be telling you that your body is running extremely
low on water content. Saliva has antibacterial properties in it, but lack of
hydration can deter your body from producing enough of it. With your body not
making enough saliva in the mouth, bacteria overgrowth is most likely to happen
and as a side effect, bad breath becomes apparent. So, as and when your tongue
becomes a bit swollen and the mouth dries out, drink water. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cause for bad breath
is dehydration.
2.
Extra Yellow Pee
Sounds gross, right? But
this is true. Unfortunately, thirst is not just the only parameter to know
if the body is crying out for water, primarily in children. There is a better
indicator - i.e. the color of urine. When
you are properly hydrated, your body discharges clear urine with a tinge of
yellow. However, concentrated, dark urine (chardonnay or orange) is a telling
sign of dehydration. With the body
losing 3% water, urine becomes prominently yellow. With the body losing 5% water, urine passed
out is chardonnay-colored. However, with
the body losing over 5% (severe dehydration), urine discharged is orange in
color.
3.
Headache
With the body losing
water, essential salts, such as potassium and sodium also get lost, which
ultimately alters the chemical makeup of the blood. As the brain is super-sensitive, it triggers a
reaction in the form of a headache. The loss of water in the brain tissues
cause the brain to shrink and move away from the skull. The severity of
headaches depends on the amount of water you lose. Loss of too much water from
the body means a severe headache as the blood volume drops proportionally. The
bottom line is, not enough water content is proportional to headache central.
4.
Fatigue Sets In
Researchers have proved
that when athletes become exhausted, the cause primarily is dehydration, and
not muscle fatigue. This is common for even us. Without the right amount of
water, your body can experience muscle soreness, thereby making you feel less
motivated for any activity. A 10%
performance level drop is quite normal in people suffering from dehydration.
Therefore, one must stay hydrated throughout the day to maximize
performance. Doctors recommend ample rest along with ample of fluid
intake in order to replenish lost water content.
5.
No More Tears
If you are crying and
tears are not coming out then it is a clear indicator of the fact that you are
dehydrated. Children who are not properly hydrated also cry without producing
any tears. Lack of wet diapers can also
be a sign of your child suffering from dehydration. It is just not normal for a toddler to have a
dry diaper for more than 3 hours. Individuals
can also notice dry mucous membrane, i.e. the tongue and mouth will become
exceptionally dry. The eyes won’t just lose tears, but will appear a bit sunken
as well.
6.
Loss of Elasticity
If you are well-hydrated
your skin will snap back to normal when pinched inside. The ones who are
dehydrated usually have a compromised turgor (the skin remains elevated and
returns back to normal slowly). So, one must remain hydrated to prevent sagging
of skin. Typically, all doctors carry out a turgor test to confirm if a patient
is hydrated or not. Lost elasticity is a clear indicator of the fact that the
person is dehydrated.
7.
Body Overheats
Fluids play a vital role
in keeping the body temperatures regulated; this prevents dehydration. Without
lack of fluids, dehydration can occur and in extreme cases, one can suffer a
heatstroke. With this condition, thirst can process mixed signals that the body
needs water. Fluid top up can be mistaken as hunger. One must drink enough water if you think that
you need to eat as in reality your body might be needing water.
Typically, the body overheats after physical exertion and profuse sweating occurs.
This can cause dehydration; therefore, it is important for a person to remain
hydrated.
8. Muscle Cramps and Spasm
It is crucial for men to
remain hydrated as they indulge in hardcore activity of muscles. Imbalance of
electrolytes in the body affects the muscle function. Sodium and potassium are the electrolytes
which our muscles contract and dehydration can cause an imbalance in these
ions, thereby resulting in muscle spasm. In some cases, muscle spasms can even result
in muscle cramps (with the muscles contracting for a longer period of time).
Typically, muscle cramping caused due to dehydration occurs in the calf or
sides, which can be extremely painful. However, the symptom can be eased by drinking
plenty of water and remaining hydrated.
9. Constipation
Water is vital for
healthy bowel movement as it encourages digestion. It moves the food you eat forward and
processes the waste out through strong bowel movement. Apart from this, water
makes the intestinal walls soft and malleable. That is the prime reason that
when we do not drink enough water, the colon loses it flexibility and the stool
we pass out becomes hard and painful. Dehydration
indeed is the very reason responsible for chronic constipation. With your body
not getting enough water, the colon absorbs water from the food waste, which is
the reason for dry stool.
10.
Lightheadedness
With the blood pressure
dropping due to dehydration, lightheadedness and dizziness are sure to
follow. This sort of condition is called orthostatic hypotension by medical
experts. Not a lot of people would consider lack of water intake as something
dangerous. But, in case the body is not topped up with enough water, it can
cause a lot of confusion. Kids and
toddlers experiencing dehydration tend to be fussy and irritable in nature. In
extreme cases, dehydration can even result in loss of consciousness.
