Dehydration effects and possible symptoms:
- Lips are noticeable dry or have areas of dry spots - this is one of the most noticeable dehydration effects
- Dry, sticky mouth, thirst
- Indigestion, reflux, and constipation - colon has difficulty moving waste matter due to lack of fluid lubrication.
- Sleepiness or tiredness — children are likely to be less active than usual
- Decreased urine output — fewer than six wet diapers a day for infants and eight hours or more without urination for older children and teens.
- Few or no tears when crying
- Muscle weakness
- Headache
- Dizziness or light-headedness
Severe dehydration effects can cause a medical emergency!!!
- Extreme thirst
- Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
- Very dry mouth, skin, and mucous membranes
- Lack of sweating
- Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber
- Sunken eyes
- Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn't "bounce back" when pinched into a fold
- In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby's head
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fever
- In the most serious cases, dehydration effects can cause delirium or unconsciousness.
The human body requires 60-70% water content (some experts say more) to function properly. Functions of water in the body :
- Regulates body temperature
- Helps to keep the brain and nervous system functioning properly
- Lubricates joints
- Lessens kidney and liver burden by flushing out waste products carries nutrients and oxygen to cells
- Moistens tissues in mouth eyes and nose
- Helps prevent constipation
- Helps dissolve minerals and other nutrients making them available to the body
- Needed by all cells for metabolism of nutrients
Drink enough water to prevent dehydration effects - most SIMPLE RULE to follow!
Adequate water consumption is critical for relieving the negative aspects of dehydration such as chronic indigestion, reflux, and constipation. Keeping the intestinal tract hydrated is of major importance. If you suspect you are suffering from dehydration effects after reading this page, don't allow symptoms to get worse. The best way to rehydrate is to sip water throughout the day. The longer you wait to rehydrate yourself, the longer it will take and over a longer period of time to stop your symptoms. Follow this SIMPLE FORMULA of how much water to drink a day and see a difference in how you feel! Take your weight in pounds and cut the number in half- this is an approximate number of ounces of water you should consume each day. Example - if you weigh 160 lb, 160 divided by 2 equals 80 ounces of water a day. If you actively exercise - you may need more, but generally, this is a good rule to go by! Majority of people drink way under the needed amount! So let's try this for just a week and see the difference!
If I drink coffee, teas, and juices throughout the day, I'm getting enough water?
There is no substitute for water and high water content foods! If the main liquids you consume are teas, coffee, and alcohol, you must replace some of these with water or at least add extra water throughout the day. Some people argue that you get water from your coffee, tea, and other beverages. Don't be fooled by this logic, there is no substitute for drinking water. Absorbing some water from other beverages is fine but those beverages usually have other qualities (contain caffeine-a diuretic) that may negate any benefit of the water they do have.
For example, coffee is highly acidic, even when it says low acid. Whatever water content you receive from drinking it is overshadowed by the effect of the acid on your stomach. In addition to this, caffeine is a diuretic, which means it forces expulsion of fluids from the body, so by consuming it, you are actually causing your body to lose more water. Learn the other remedies for acid
reflux and heartburn here.
Adequate water consumption is critical for relieving the negative aspects of dehydration such as chronic indigestion, reflux, and constipation. Keeping the intestinal tract hydrated is of major importance. If you suspect you are suffering from dehydration effects after reading this page, don't allow symptoms to get worse. The best way to rehydrate is to sip water throughout the day. The longer you wait to rehydrate yourself, the longer it will take and over a longer period of time to stop your symptoms. Follow this SIMPLE FORMULA of how much water to drink a day and see a difference in how you feel! Take your weight in pounds and cut the number in half- this is an approximate number of ounces of water you should consume each day. Example - if you weigh 160 lb, 160 divided by 2 equals 80 ounces of water a day. If you actively exercise - you may need more, but generally, this is a good rule to go by! Majority of people drink way under the needed amount! So let's try this for just a week and see the difference!