It occurs when your body loses more water than it takes in. This makes it more difficult for your body to perform basic functions such as maintaining a constant temperature and eliminating waste. You lose water through sweat, tears, and bathroom visits. Even breathing requires some effort.
Is Thirst an Indicator of Dehydration?
Yes, but there's no need to be concerned. You're already dehydrated when you feel the need to quench your thirst. It's not a problem if you pay attention and drink when your body tells you to. The latency may be longer in elderly persons. As a result, it may assist in developing a habit of drinking water.
60% of the human body is made up of water. Maintaining healthy body functions and metabolic processes is critical. Sweat, urine, and even breathing will cause you to lose water. As a result, you must drink enough water on a daily basis to stay hydrated.
Drinking insufficient water can cause excessive weariness, headaches, digestive issues, and a general sense of dehydration. Dehydration over time might impair your immune system. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of indicators that indicate you're not getting enough water.
If you're suffering any of these symptoms, you should start by boosting your daily water intake.
Signs That You Aren't Getting Enough Water
1. Persistent Bad Breath
Water is necessary for saliva production and helps to flush away bacteria, allowing you to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Lack of water reduces saliva production, causing bacteria to accumulate on the tongue, teeth, and gums, resulting in bad breath. If you have decent dental hygiene but still have persistent foul breath, it's probable that you aren't getting enough water.
2. Fatigue
Drinking too little water might cause a loss of fluid in the body. This loss of fluid can cause a drop in blood volume, putting extra strain on the heart to transport oxygen and nutrients to the organs, including the muscles. As your body attempts to function without enough water, you may feel moments of weariness and low energy. If you're always weary and sluggish despite obtaining a good night's sleep, you may need to increase your water consumption.
3. Frequent Illness
Water aids in the removal of toxins, waste, and bacteria from the body in order to combat disease and infection, as well as strengthening your immune system so you are less likely to get sick. If you find yourself feeling sick frequently, you may need to start drinking more water to maintain your body free of toxins and performing at its best. Because dehydration causes exhaustion, you may be less physically active, which is another risk factor for decreased immunity.
4. Constipation
Water aids digestion and regular bowel movements. In order to compensate for fluid loss, your body may draw water from your stool, resulting in harder, stiffer that is more difficult to pass. Drink additional water to soften your stools and ease constipation and bloating if your bowel movements are irregular and infrequent.
5. Poor Skin Health
Water moisturizes and plumps skin cells, making your skin look younger and more vibrant. Water deficiency, on the other hand, can cause skin to lose its plumpness and elasticity, resulting in dryness, flakiness, fine lines, wrinkles, and drooping. Water can even assist with acne and other skin issues by washing toxins out of the body. Drink more water to achieve a more youthful appearance and to decrease or improve skin problems if beauty products and skin treatments fail to improve the appearance of your skin.
6. Sugar Cravings
Dehydration makes it difficult for the body to access glucose stores for energy, which can lead to sugar and carbohydrate cravings. Sugary food cravings that come on suddenly and unexpectedly may suggest that your body is in desperate need of water rather than food. If you've recently eaten but still have sugar cravings or hunger sensations, consider drinking more water to rehydrate your body and keep cravings at away.
7. Decreased Urination
The kidneys retain as much fluid as possible when your body is dehydrated in order to keep their function. This might cause reduced urine, which is one of the most prevalent indications of dehydration. Lack of water might cause your urine to darken in color, smell harsher, and appear cloudier.
Tips for staying hydrated
- Make water your go to drink
- Set a reminder on your phone to have a glass of water
- Carrying the water bottle does the trick
- If you are hankering a snack, have water instead
