Dehydration is a condition when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. When one experiences dehydration, they will feel thirsty and weak. Anyone can experience this condition, especially those who drink less water than the amount of water needed by the body. And everyone needs different amounts of water, depending on their ages, activities, and environment.
Besides drinking less water than the body needs, there are also other causes of dehydration, such as sweating a lot, consuming too much alcohol, diabetes, and diarrhea. Dehydration is not a condition that you can underestimate because it can cause serious health issues.
What is the Relation Between Dehydration and Fatigue?
The body consists of around 50% to 60% of water. And water is an essential nutrient that the body cannot produce. With a lot of activities that you do, water comes out of your body through sweat, breath, and when you pee and poo. Therefore, it is important for you to drink enough water to maintain the balance of body fluids.
Moreover, water also plays an important role for body functions. For example, delivering nutrients to the entire body, maintaining the body temperature stable, and as a lubricant for joints. If you don't drink enough water, your body functions will not be optimal. Water is indeed not a source of energy. But without water, your body has no energy.
Dehydration can affect both your physical and mental performance. When you suffer from dehydration, you will easily feel sleepy and exhausted, and your mouth will dry. At least these are the short-term effects of dehydration. If you don't drink enough water, you may also feel anxious, tense, moody, and your memory and concentration decrease.
Symptoms of Dehydration
Two main symptoms of dehydration are excessive thirst and dark-coloured urine. These are actually the way the body tells you to drink more water. Depending on how much fluid that the body loses, dehydration is divided into 2 categories, which are mild to moderate dehydration and severe dehydration.
Mild-Moderate Dehydration
Here are the symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration:
- Feeling thirsty.
- Dry mouth.
- Dark-coloured urine.
- Feeling exhausted and sleepy easily.
- Headache and difficulty concentrating.
- Constipation.
- Decreased frequency and volume of urination.
- Muscle cramp.
Severe Dehydration
On the other hand, those who suffer from severe dehydration will have these symptoms:
- Excessive thirst.
- Heart pounding irregularly.
- Decrease in blood pressure.
- Fast breathing.
- Sunken eyes.
- Dry skin.
- Severe headache.
- Fainted.
- Seizures.
Dehydration Diagnosis
In order to have an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will start the check-up by asking all the symptoms that the patient has as well as their medical history. Then, the doctor will do a physical check-up thoroughly, including measuring the blood pressure. If necessary, the doctor will also recommend some supporting examinations, such as:
Blood check is done by taking a sample of the patient's blood for further observation in the laboratory. This aims to check the level of electrolyte in the body as well as check the kidney performance.
Urine check is done by taking a sample of the patient's urine to detect the symptoms of dehydration and what causes the condition.
Dehydration Complications
If dehydration is not immediately treated, it will lead to some complications as explained below.
- Kidneys and Urinary Tract Issues
Dehydration can lead to urinary tract infection, bladder stones, kidney stones, and even acute kidney failure. This condition can get worse, especially if the patient often suffer from dehydration.
Doing heavy activities without paying attention to the body's fluid intake can lead to dehydration and trigger a significant increase in the body temperature. This condition is called hyperthermia that can lead to heat strokes.
Seizures happen when there is an imbalance of electrolyte levels in the body. Imbalance of potassium and sodium in the body can cause dehydration that further leads to seizures.
Hypovolemic shock is the most severe complication of dehydration. Without immediate treatment, this condition can lead to death.
How to Prevent Dehydration
The major preventive action to prevent dehydration is by meeting your body's daily need of water. Besides mineral water, you can also meet your body's daily intake by drinking infused water or sparkling water. Other preventive actions that you can do are:
- Make Sure to Drink Enough Water
Health practitioners suggest women and men to drink 7 glasses or 1.8 litre of water. The number might be varied, depending on activities, body weight, and other factors. Make sure you fulfil this because the body cannot store water for a long time.
- Don't Wait Until You are Thirsty
Do not wait until you feel thirsty to drink water. Make drinking water as your need. To help you with it, you can always have a bottle of water beside you so that you won't forget to drink water. Immediately fill up the bottle once you have finished it.
- Choose High-Quality Mineral Water
Avoid having too many drinks that contain a lot of sugars and caffeine as they can cause health problems, such as diabetes. Choose to drink mineral water to meet your daily need for water. You can also drink sparkling water or infused water. When it comes to mineral water, make sure you choose the quality one. Clear water is not necessarily free from contamination like bacteria and germs. So, make sure that the mineral water you drink is from a hygienic source, as well as the process.
When Should I Go See the Doctor?
Generally, you can overcome dehydration without any medical treatment. But you must see the doctor as soon as possible when you have these symptoms:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea for more than 24 hours.
- Excessive sleepiness and disorientation.
- Dark black or bloody stools.
That is all you need to know about dehydration. Normally, this condition is not that serious, but you must not ignore it. When you notice that you easily get tired, this might be a sign that your body needs more water. Make sure you drink enough water so that you can do all your activities optimally. Have you drunk water today?
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