Are You Sick or Just Dehydrated?
The human body is made up of abput 50% to 65% water. The precious liquid is highly essential for the normal functioning of your organs to keep the cells in working order. It may surprise you to know that a loss of even 1.6% of the water content can start to make you feel uneasy and ill.
Several symptoms of dehydration or not having adequate water in your body are similar to ailments. It’s your body’s way of indicating that you need to replace the lost water content quickly by drinking more.
You Lose Water All the Time
Doctors advise you to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day to match the volume you lose because of natural functions. These include:
Breathing
Sweating
Peeing and pooping
Saliva
Tears
You may also lose more than the regular amount because of conditions like:
Fever
Peeing more than usual because of diuretics you may be having
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Excessive working out
Fever
Mild to Moderate Dehydration Can Have Various Symptoms
If you haven’t been drinking enough, you might start to sense some of the symptoms of dehydration that are similar to serious health issues. Do keep in mind that illnesses can cause fluid loss. But, oftentimes, replacing fluids can help you regain good health and wellness.
Headaches
Cramps or spasms in the muscles
Dry skin that feels cool to the touch
Thirst
Constipation
Stickiness or dryness in the mouth
Not peeing as often and a dark yellow urine
Bad breath that results from insufficient saliva in your mouth and growth of bacteria
Feeling cold even in warm weather
Craving for sugary foods
Excessive skin wrinkling
irritability
Look Out for the Symptoms of Severe Dehydration
If you don’t replace the lost fluids right away, you might start to feel additional symptoms that indicate severe dehydration such as:
Dizziness and fainting
Palpitations or rapid heartbeats
Confusion and difficulty in concentrating on normal tasks
Extremely dry skin
Quick breathing
Fatigue and lack of energy with sleepiness
Sunken eyes with dark circles
Just Drinking Water is Not Enough to Manage Dehydration
You might think that drinking lots of water can help you replace the lost fluids quickly. However, just water may not help you. That’s because dehydration is also the result of imbalances in the minerals and electrolytes in your body.
For this reason, your doctor may advise that you drink fruit juices or squashes that have been diluted with water. Avoid sodas since they add undesirable amounts of sugar to your system. Tea and coffee may have the effect of adding to dehydration since they can stimulate urination. Instead, drinking rehydration fluids to balance the levels of sodium and potassium in the body is a good option.
Depending on the levels of dehydration and deficiencies of electrolytes, your doctor might suggest IV therapy. After conducting a blood test, you’ll receive a customized formulation of IV fluids that are given intravenously. Most such sessions may take about an hour.
Once your fluids are balanced, you’ll reverse the symptoms of dehydration and feel well again. If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, talk to your doctor about IV therapy and its benefits for your body.