Dehydration Symptoms

Dehydration, in simplest terms, is defined as a condition that occurs due to loss of water in the body. Its severity can differ according to the loss occurred. Dehydration can be a disease or a condition in itself, or it may be a side effect or symptom of some other disease or disorder. It can occur due to several reasons like not drinking sufficient amount of water, severe perspiration due to exercise, side effect of medications, excessive urination and diarrhea, etc. It is essential to know and identify the symptoms in the initial stages itself in order to prevent dehydration from being severe.

Dehydration in Adults
As mentioned above, dehydration can be mild or severe depending on the amount of water lost in the body. The symptoms and signs of dehydration also vary accordingly. Thirst is one of the most common and early signs, which is followed by other easy-to-identify symptoms. The following are symptoms of mild dehydration in adults:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Darkening of urine
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Thirst
• Chills
• Wrinkled skin
• Fatigue
• Weakness

If the body loses up to 5% of its total body fluid, one suffers from severe dehydration. The following are signs of severe dehydration observed in people.

• Wrinkling of the skin
• Inability to urinate
• Sunken eyes
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat
• Cold and clammy hands and feet
• Unconsciousness
• Seizures

Dehydration in Children
Most of the above mentioned signs and symptoms are also seen in case of children above the age of 7 years. However, it is difficult to understand dehydration symptoms in babies. Following are the signs to look out for.

• Lack or urination
• Crying without tears
• Irritability
• Sluggishness
• Weakness

Dehydration during Pregnancy
During the first trimester of pregnancy, dehydration is commonly observed. The following are signs and symptoms of dehydration during pregnancy that one should look for:

• Thirst
• Migraine
• Dizziness
• Darkening of urine
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Dry skin

If one experiences any of the mild dehydration symptoms, he/she should consume water and electrolytic fluids to treat the condition. On the other hand, in case of severe dehydration, one should consult the doctor or look for emergency services for quick treatment. In most of the cases of severe dehydration, intravenous (IV) fluids are used for treating and overcoming the loss of fluids and electrolytes in the body. Similarly, one of the best ways to prevent this condition is to have sufficient amount of water (8-10 glasses) everyday. Secondly, water should not be substituted with other fluids like tea, coffee and other beverages. Specially in summers or when performing strenuous exercise, one should be careful, and have extra water so as to prevent dehydration. Children and babies should also be encouraged to drink adequate amount of water everyday.

Lastly, on a concluding note, one should remember that this condition can be prevented and hence, one should take necessary measures to prevent this possibly life-threatening condition. Take care!