7 Weird, Sneaky Signs You Might Be Dehydrated

Dehydration is a major problem in the summer.As the weather gets hotter and people sweat a lot, almost everyone needs to drink more water.

Dehydration can really affect a lot of things.You may just need an extra glass or two of water to make sure you feel good, but the situation can also be very serious and lead to life-threatening complications, such as heat stroke.Studies have shown that even mild dehydration (i.e., a loss of 1 to 2 percent of your body’s water) can seriously affect your daily functioning.

Unfortunately, knowing when you’re in the early stages of dehydration isn’t always easy, as some of the more common symptoms aren’t necessarily related to how much water (or other fluids) people drink.

So, as summer temperatures rise, here are some signs that you need to hydrate as soon as possible.

1.Your breath smells bad or your mouth is dry

While this isn’t a guarantee – bad breath doesn’t necessarily mean dehydration – it can be a sign.

There is an underlying mechanism that links lack of hydration to bad breath.When you’re dehydrated, you don’t produce as much saliva, which helps break down food and rinse your mouth.

The weakened cleansing action of saliva can lead to bacterial growth, which can lead to bad breath.So if you notice that your breath is a little stinky, it could be a red flag that you need to drink a glass or two of water.

Dry mouth can also be another potential sign of dehydration, but not always.(Other possible causes include certain medications and even nerve damage.)So if your mouth often feels sticky or parched, or if you find yourself constantly thirsty, it’s definitely worth visiting your doctor.

2.Experiencing muscle spasms or cramps

Experts believe that one of the reasons people experience muscle cramps during a workout is dehydration and electrolyte depletion, which means your body doesn’t have enough of key minerals like sodium and potassium.These minerals help balance the pH level in your body and control nervous system function.

But dehydration-induced cramps don’t just affect athletes.If you start feeling muscle pain or tightness when you walk in hot weather, it could be a sign that you’re not drinking enough water.

The same is true if you start experiencing involuntary muscle spasms or painful cramps.

3.You have a headache.

Headaches are a common symptom of mild to moderate dehydration and can be either tolerable or severe.

Dehydration can also trigger migraines for reasons that are not entirely clear.Researchers note that dehydration actually temporarily shrinks brain tissue, and that shrinkage may cause pain.

4.Your urine is very dark.

One way for healthcare professionals to diagnose dehydration is to test the patient’s urine to see if it is too concentrated.However, simple tests at home can also be helpful.

Just look at the color of the urine.If the urine is a light yellow color, it means the body is well hydrated.If the urine is dark yellow, it means a glass (or two) of water is needed.In general, the more water you drink, the clearer your urine will be.

But remember: the color of your urine may also change depending on the medications you take or the specific foods you eat.Therefore, if you have any concerns, consult your doctor.

5.You feel like you have the summer flu.

If you’re feeling sick all the time – think of the headaches mentioned earlier, as well as feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea – your first reaction may be to think you’ve contracted some kind of virus.But it could be related to hydration.

Any flu-like symptoms can lead to dehydration.People may also experience fever or chills, especially if they are moderately or severely dehydrated.

6.You’re hungry.

Both thirst and hunger are signaled in part by the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls these functions as well as others such as body temperature.So if you find that you feel hungry soon after eating, it’s worth considering whether the real culprit is thirst.

Also, keep in mind that some of the signs listed in this list, as well as other signs of dehydration, are quite similar to signs of starvation, so it’s understandable that people often confuse the two.

7.You’re tired.

Staying hydrated is key to staying energized throughout the day.Hydration helps your body deliver key nutrients to your cells and allows your organs to function properly.Without enough water to perform these functions, you will feel exhausted.

In addition, hydration can have a direct impact on the quality of sleep.Hydration is important for most of the body’s systems, so dehydration can produce a variety of symptoms, including disrupted sleep.

However, we warns against over-hydration.Too much hydration can cause people to wake up multiple times a night to go to the bathroom, which can also lead to fatigue.The ultimate goal is to maintain balance.

How to stay more hydrated throughout the day

There are no hard and fast rules about how much a person should drink in a 24-hour period (and the six to eight drink rule has been scoffed at by many experts).

In general, people should drink until they’re thirsty, which means you should drink when you’re thirsty and stop drinking when you’re not.However, thirst is not always a reliable indicator, especially for older adults, who can be less sensitive to thirst.When you’re thirsty, you’re probably mildly dehydrated.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that you’re always hydrated in your daily life and plan ahead.Carry a reusable water bottle with you and even consider one labeled with a time goal.If you don’t like drinking plain water, consider herbal teas or water with fruits or herbs.

If you’re going to brave the heat, you have to be more prepared.If you plan to spend some time in the sun, you need to be prepared.Ideally, you should start preparing the day before by drinking plenty of water.