Its been drilled into you since you were a kid: you better drink enough water.
Something thats often not included in that life lesson?
How to tell if you are dehydrated.
Signs of dehydration can include muscle cramps, fatigue, and lightheadedness.
Severe dehydration can have dire consequences.
After all, water typically makes up two-thirds of your bodyweight,per the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Whats the difference between feeling thirsty and actual dehydration?
Your body does a pretty good job of maintaining its fluid balance under normal circumstances.
By the time you feel thirsty, you may already be moderately dehydrated, she says.
What causes dehydration?
The vast majority of us dont drink as much water as we should.
Its easy to associate dehydration with being overheated as well, but thats not always the case.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
The signs and symptoms of dehydration can be pretty obvious or seemingly random.
Your muscles also require a certain amount of water to function well, Dr. Conroy explains.
This is often due to a sodium deficit in the body.
The exact reason why dehydration sometimes causes a headache isnt known.
Fatigueis your body noticing it doesnt have an optimal state, Dr. Conroy says.
The low blood pressure that comes with dehydration can also make you feel woozy, Dr. Khan says.
A lower level of electrolytes can alsocause dizzinessor a lightheaded feeling.
Thus, it appears darker and in lower volume.
As a result, places like your mouth and lips might start to feel really dry.
Saliva has bacteria-fighting properties, Dr. Wider explains.
If you notice that you suddenly have bad breath for no reason, try drinking more water regularly.
Fixing thedry mouthalone may freshen things up.
Along those lines, a white tongue can also be a sign of dehydration.
Feeling briefly confused or out of it can simply mean you need a bit more sleep.
Your liver needs water to function properly.
When it doesnt get it, it signals to your brain that you need fuel, Dr. Wider says.
But this doesnt usually happen with people who are dehydrated.
Without enough moisture, your skin loses some of the elasticity it needs to snap back.
When should you see a doctor for dehydration?
You may need IV fluids to get rehydrated.
In those cases, dehydration may not be a sudden thing, but slightly more gradual.
To stay hydrated, Dr. Conroy recommends keeping a water bottle with you when youre on the go.
Keep tabs on your pee, as well.
If its deeply yellow or oddly pungent, thats probably a sign you oughta load up on more liquids.
Still need some motivation?
Try theseexpert-approved tricks to drink more water every day.
