Surprising Signs of Dehydration
As we head into summer, the days get longer, the temperature rises and we spend more time outdoors. We lose a lot more fluid through perspiring, so we need to make sure we stay hydrated.
Dehydration can be serious and even life-threatening. It can cause dizziness, confusion and headaches. While it can be a problem for everyone, dehydration can especially affect the very young and the very old.
One of the best ways to prevent dehydration is to drink water throughout the day even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Avoid caffeinated, sugary drinks and alcohol which can actually increase dehydration.This is because they are diuretics, which means they cause you to urinate frequently. Urinating removes fluids in your body and leads to dehydration.
In the summer, it is important to wear light-colored clothes that are loose-fitting and are able to breathe.
From bad breath to weight gain, knowing the warning signs of dehydration can help keep you and your family safe and healthy. Here are some of the surprising symptoms of dehydration.
- adrian825
adrian825 1Bad Breath
When we don't drink enough water, our body has trouble producing enough saliva. Saliva kills the bacteria in our mouths, so when there isn't enough the bacteria has overgrowth and causes bad breath.
- pojoslaw
pojoslaw 2Muscle Cramps
Our muscles work really hard to keep us active all day long, but when they get too hot they begin to seize and cramp. This happens often when we are dehydrated because there is nothing cooling the muscles off.
- Ingram Publishing
Ingram Publishing 3Cravings for Sweets
Your constant craving might just be more than a sweet tooth! It actually can be a sign of dehydration. Water affects our body in many ways, especially with our energy storage. Dehydration makes it hard for the body to store energy, so it tends to crave sweets because of difficulty with glycogen production.
- Prapass Wannapinij
Prapass Wannapinij 4Weight Gain Despite Dieting
Are you noticing weight gain rather than weight loss even though you are eating clean and working out? This is common when you are really dehydrated. People tend to gain weight when they are dehydrated because it slows down the metabolism and negatively affects the body's ability to burn fat. It also encourages excess calorie consumption, as stated above with food cravings.
- 5
Dark Yellow Urine and Constipation
The color of your urine can be an early indicator of dehydration. If your urine is a dark yellow color it may be a sign that you are dehydrated. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of constipation. That’s because dehydration causes stool to become dried out, which in turn prevents it from passing through the bowels.
Source: Surprising Signs of Dehydration
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