Dehydration is a lack of water and mineral salts in the body. It generally appears as a result of poor water balance, or an excessive loss of uncompensated water. Dehydration can have serious consequences on health, hence the interest of recognizing its first symptoms, in order to remedy them in time.
It should be noted that the body is unable to store water because it continuously evacuates it through breathing, perspiration, urine and stool. Thus, mitigating these water losses is essential for the body to function properly and to prevent dehydration.
Some people are at greater risk of dehydration, as is the case for infants with low body and water reserves and elderly people who are less sensitive to thirst.
Dehydration also occurs as a result of:
- Excessive sweating after and during physical exertion, fever or heat
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Diuretic medications
- Some chronic diseases such as diabetes
The 8 most frequent symptoms of dehydration:
Less frequent urine:
Our body eliminates one to two liters of urine on average. It is therefore quite normal to go to the bathroom between 6 to 8 times a day and urinate once during the night. So, when you notice that the frequency and amount of your urine has decreased, this can be a sign of dehydration.
Dry skin:
Water has many functions in the body, including maintaining moisture in the skin. It is for this reason that it is advisable to drink between 1.5l and 2 l of water per day.
A lack of moisture can be manifested by dry, pale and cold skin. One can also observe a skin fold, that is to say that the skin takes more time to regain its normal appearance when it is pinched.
Frequent headaches:
According to a study by the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, published in the journal Family Practice, drinking plenty of water helps to reduce the intensity of migraines and headaches.
The study was carried out on 100 volunteers suffering from headaches of different intensity, to which the researchers gave some advice: they asked half of them to drink 1.5 l of water per day, in addition Of their daily water intake, for 3 months. Results showed that volunteers who had significant water intakes had improved their condition.
So, if water can relieve headaches, can a lack in this matter cause them? The answer is yes. The most frequent symptoms of dehydration include headaches. Like all other organs, the brain also needs water to function, and so sends you signals in its own way.
A dry mouth:
Among the functions of water in the body is to provide saliva to swallow food and avoid dry mouth. Thus, lower hydric intakes can lead to a reduction in the production of saliva, hence the sensation of dry mouth.
A change in the color of the urine:
The normal color of the urine is a light yellow, but it can change depending on various factors. It can become transparent due to excessive consumption of water as it can become dark due to the consumption of certain foods or pigments or lack of water. The more your body needs water, the darker the color of the urine.
Hunger :
In some, our body believes to be hungry while thirsty. This confusion is made by the hypothalamus, whose role is to control several functions, including these two feelings. Sometimes it can lead to a feeling of hunger, whereas the body needs to drink.
So if you're thirsty, drink some water and wait a few minutes to see if it's calmed down, instead of attacking a meal directly.
Dizziness :
Dizziness may be due to several minor or major health problems. Particular dehydration, can cause dizziness because the body feels very weak in lack of water.
Confusion :
Brain cells can be easily affected by water deficit. In the case of dehydration, there may be confusion and unconsciousness.