Seven Signs of Dehydration to Know

Introduction

Thirst, you say? In addition to the colour of your urine, your breath, and your mood. And cravings may also indicate that you are suffering from Dehydration. Here’s how to determine if you’re dehydrated.

You know drinking enough water is vital to keeping your body hydrated, although the recommended water intake depends on several factors, including gender, age, and activity level.

However, it’s easy to forget to drink water throughout the day. For example, you have a coffee or tea and juice or soda in the afternoon. And maybe even a glass of wine at dinner. Yet, we still feel dehydrated. What for? Some drinks, such as wine, can dehydrate the body.

Therefore, your health must drink water and have enough fluids in your body. But apart from thirst, how do you know if you need to increase your fluid intake? Should I drink eight glasses of water a day?
Here’s how to take a closer look at the telltale signs that indicate you need to drink more water.

Bad Breath can be a sign of Dehydration

Saliva works night and day to rid your tongue, teeth and gums of food particles. If you have a dry mouth, bacteria will proliferate on these food particles, and you will have bad breath. Drink water throughout the day to avoid Dehydration and keep your mouth moist. Need a fresh boost? Chewing gum or a lozenge will activate your salivary glands. As much as possible, I prefer sugar-free gums and lozenges. It is hard to suspect them, yet these things dehydrate us slyly!

Dehydration also has an Impact on Mood

Researchers at the University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Lab looked at the concentration abilities and mood of 25 women who drank enough water one day and not enough the next two days. Slightly dehydrated, these women showed signs of fatigue, irritability, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.

In another test, thirsty little men were tired and less on the lookout for mental exercises. However, when it came to mood, women were more susceptible to Dehydration than men, at least according to this study. Scientists are still trying to figure out why – good luck!

Frequent Sugar Cravings May Mean You Need to Drink More Water

You might confuse your need to drink with your urge to throw yourself on a sugar-based snack, especially after exercising. “After an exhausting session, we are not only dehydrated, but our glycogen stores are at an all-time low,” says sports nutritionist Kim Larson. Glycogens are sugars that our body stores and uses as fuel.

Our cravings are the language of our body to tell us that it needs more. “Not everyone craves sugar after exercise,” says Kim Larson, “but when you’re tired, it’s tempting to give in.” Fruits and dairy products are the fastest and most complete, recharging you with carbohydrates when your glycogen stores are at their lowest. In addition, most fruits and yoghurts contain a lot of water and therefore contribute to rehydration. See what other foods can hydrate.

The Skin Makes Weird Folds due to Dehydration

Pinch the back of your hand for a few seconds. It should return to its original position soon enough when you release it. If it takes time to get back to normal, it’s probably because you’re dehydrated. “The turgor of the skin — which measures its elasticity — begins to decrease with a 5 per cent fluid loss, which is mild dehydration. However, with moderate to severe Dehydration, the fold in the skin will not disappear.

Do you know why else you should stay hydrated? To look younger. “Excellent hydration dramatically improves the appearance of facial skin, especially as we age.

Lack Of Energy During Workouts

Larson observes that dehydration lowers blood pressure and raises your heart rate, which impacts your ability to surpass yourself. “Even a loss of 2 or 3 per cent fluids can impair your ability to complete your workout,” he says, “and beyond 5 per cent, your physical capacity decreases by 30 per cent.” So here’s why you’re always thirsty!

Feeling Dizzy While Driving

You urinated before taking the road and neglected to drink water on the way to avoid the many stops. It’s understandable. Except that if we believe research published in Physiology and Behavior, driving dehydrated could be as dangerous as taking the road drunk because of the mistakes you might make while driving. English researchers studied participants who drove two hours on a simulator.

When adequately hydrated, they made an average of 47 mistakes. When dehydrated, the number of faults (including lane changes and last-second braking) doubled to 101. Dehydration causes fatigue and impairs our intellectual abilities and clarity of reasoning as well as our reaction times. It’s also not easy to stay well hydrated in winter, but here’s how to deal with it.

Feeling Dizzy When You Get Up Too Fast

Blood volume and blood pressure drop when you’re dehydrated, which can cause dizziness or even fainting when you get up or go to bed quickly. Conversely, is it possible to drink too much water?