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15 Signs You’re Dehydrated

15 Ways to tell, if you are dehydrated.. 

Have you ever had one of those days where you’ve been so busy running around, you haven’t had time to drink a glass of water?

I have. And it is those days where I end up feeling particularly tired and run down, that I realize, I actually didn’t stop to rehydrate myself.

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However, the problem is not just a lack of water, it is a lack of cellular water. If the water we drink is unable to get into the cells, we can drink water all day long and still be dehydrated. I just did a quick calculation on a Daily Hydration Calculator. Since I exercise at least 90 minutes a day, live in hot climate, am in the sun regularly, am not living in high altitudes, nor pregnant, it roughly said I needed 3 liters of water per day. That’s a lot. I am sure I’m not getting enough in myself, even though I do drink tons of water.

Water is necessary for detox of waste chemicals in the body. Water is required to digest food and eliminate waste. Water in the kidneys neutralizes acidic waste and sends them out in the urine. Water is expelled during respiration and is continually being moved through the skin to moderate temperature and flush the tissues of the skin. Water is also required for every metabolic process, so that nothing can happen without water. Ultimately, when water is lacking in our cells, organs cannot function properly and toxins are allowed to build up.

picture your skin as dehydrated fruit!

Did you know that dehydration is the number-one cause of stress in the human body? Dehydration has also been linked with angina pain, asthma, colitis, diabetes, peptic ulcer pain, high blood pressure, low back pain, high blood cholesterol and aging.

If you’re a healthy adult, you can usually treat mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids, such as water or a sports drink (Gatorade, Powerade, others). Get immediate medical care if you develop severe signs and symptoms such as extreme thirst, a lack of urination, shriveled skin, dizziness and confusion.

Here are 15 signs of dehydration that you should look out for:

1. Dry mouth
2. Sleepiness or tiredness
3. Thirst
4. Decreased urine output/dark urine
5. Few or no tears when crying
6. Sunken eyes
7. Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn’t “bounce back” when pinched into a fold
8. Dry skin
9. Headache
10. Constipation
11. Low Blood Pressure
12. Dizziness or lightheadedness
13. Rapid heartbeat
14. Rapid breathing
15 Fever
In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness

 

How to prevent dehydration?
Well drink loads of water everyday!

 

Water makes up around 70 per cent of the human body. Around two-thirds of the water we need comes from drinks. Up to one-third comes from food (tomatoes, cucumber, fish and poultry are good sources). Some is also provided as a result of chemical reactions within the body.

The average adult loses around 2.5 litres of water every day through the normal processes of breathing, sweating and waste removal. If we lose more fluid than usual this tips the balance towards dehydration.

Lifestyle factors such as drinking too much alcohol, exercise, being in a hot environment or being too busy to drink liquid can also lead to dehydration.

 

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6 Responses to 15 Signs You’re Dehydrated

  1. Micamyx January 18, 2013 at 9:46 am #

    I make sure now to drink at least 7 glasses of water a day. Better drink lots than be sorry in the future!

    • ciki January 18, 2013 at 9:49 am #

      That’s right.. 3 Liters darling! 😀

  2. missyblurkit January 22, 2013 at 6:52 pm #

    I take about 2 litres of water daily. Some days that includes caffeine free herbal teas eg chamomile or peppermint. Makes hitting the water target much easier:D

    • ciki January 22, 2013 at 9:41 pm #

      Good for you!

  3. Bobby March 2, 2013 at 3:49 pm #

    I am on the other end of the spectrum. I have a very stressful job and 4 kids…3 in college and 1 in high school. I NEVER drink water…at all. I live on caffenated drinks and have been to drs for months now to figure out why I have most of the symptoms you listed. Not one dr asked if I drank water and not one suggested I might be dehydrated. One of my employees started suffering the same symptoms and their dr immediately realized he was dehydrated. That is why I got on the internet and looked up the signs. I guess I should have realized what was wrong but I had just marked it up to stress. Thanks for the article! Definitely switching to water!

    • ciki March 2, 2013 at 4:44 pm #

      wow, I am glad this helped. Water is really the life source that helps flush out all the crap in our system.. let me know how it goes in a month or so! 😀

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