Signs Of Dehydration
Signs Of Dehydration Include:
- Being thirsty often
- Dry skin
- Chapped lips
- Lack of sweating
- Decreased urination
- Dark urine
- Dry mouth
- Feeling sluggish
- Dizziness
- Trouble producing tears
- Confusion
Signs Of Severe Dehydration Also Include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fever
- Drop in blood pressure right after standing or lying down
- Extreme and prolonged dizziness
- Not being able to urinate
How Does Dehydration Occur?
Dehydration occurs when the water moving out of our cells far exceeds the amount of water that is being put into them. The water moving out of cells is lost through perspiration, urination, defecation, and exhalation.
We need to replenish the water through the consumption of water in food and through drinking water. General guidelines for the daily recommended consumption of water are 1 gallon of water (which includes water from food) and 3/4 gallon of water for women.
The most common cause of dehydration is the lack of consumption of water. Diarrhea, vomiting, fever, excessive sweating, increased urination due to diabetes, and medications like high blood pressure can cause dehydration.
Testing For Dehydration
We can mistake some of the signs of dehydration for other illnesses so it is good to test for dehydration when suffering from a combination of the signs. Researchers devised a simple technique to assess hydration levels in the body. First you have to empty your bladder, then you have to:
Consume 11 milliliters of water per kilogram (equivalent to 5 milliliters per pound) of body weight within 3 minutes. Rest for 1 hour, empty your bladder again, and measure the amount urine produced.[1]
Retaining most of the water is a good indication you are dehydrated. Participants in the study who weighed around 150 pounds consumed around 3 cups of water. Those who urinated 1 cup of water were considered to be dehydrated.
You think dehydration is not common, but it is. The empty circles in the top left corner represent the participants who were dehydrated. Dehydration is a common and can be a serious problem that is easily addressed in most cases by consuming adequate amounts of water.
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