Signs and symptoms of dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body doesn't have the amount of water it needs to function efficiently. You may become dehydrated after losing too much water or not adequately replacing lost water. Sweating, having diarrhoea, and vomiting are examples of situations that can lead to dehydration.
When dehydrated, you may feel thirsty, have a dry mouth, and be fatigued. As dehydration progresses, the symptoms become more severe. Being able to recognise the symptoms of dehydration is key so that you know if you or a loved one is in need of fluid.
Common symptoms
While dehydration is uncommon among adults without any underlying health condition and who have access to water, anyone can become dehydrated. Dehydration is more likely among older adults, people who work or exercise in the heat, and those who have conditions or take medications that cause more sweat or urination.
When you are dehydrated, the symptoms you experience reflect how severe your dehydration is. The most common symptoms of dehydration are:
Thirst
Fatigue
Dry lips and skin
Decreased urine output
Dark coloured urine
Headache
Muscle cramps
Light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting
Low blood pressure upon standing
Palpitations
Mild to moderate dehydration symptoms
Signs you are mildly to moderately dehydrated include:
Thirst
Fatigue
Dry mouth or tongue
Decreased urine output or darker yellow urine
Dry skin
Headache
Light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting
Inability to focus
Muscle weakness or cramps
Increased heart rate
Quickened breathing
Research has shown that many people don't recognise some of the less common symptoms, such as the inability to focus or muscle weakness, as signs of dehydration. As a result, people may not act on the symptoms by increasing their fluid intake.
Fast breathing is another symptom people do not usually associate with dehydration. Not only is it a sign of dehydration, but it can also worsen dehydration since respiration is one way your body loses water.
Recognising all symptoms of dehydration—particularly if you are at increased risk of dehydration—can prevent your dehydration from becoming severe. As soon as you recognise you are dehydrated, you can drink fluids, which is often all that's needed to treat dehydration that isn't severe.
Severe dehydration symptoms
Symptoms of severe dehydration may include:
Parched mouth
Dry, cracked lips
Low blood pressure
Lethargy
Reduced alertness
Lack of urination or urine that is very dark yellow or amber in colour
Very dry skin that doesn't spring back quickly when pinched up (tented skin)
Sunken eyes
Confusion or loss of consciousness
One of the other signs of severe dehydration is slow capillary refill. When you press the tips of the fingers or toes and you are severely dehydrated, the colour is slow to return. This slowed return to colour could indicate decreased blood flow to the extremities and could be a sign of shock (when there is not enough blood flow in the body).
If your internal organs are not receiving adequate blood flow, you may develop complications like liver injuries, kidney failure, or electrolyte imbalances.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any sign or symptom of severe dehydration, you should seek medical help. Someone who is severely dehydrated may need intravenous fluids at a hospital to get hydrated and prevent serious complications.
Without treatment, severe dehydration can lead to permanent brain damage, seizure, or death.
When to see a healthcare provider
Severe dehydration can be life-threatening. Call for medical help immediately if you see someone experiencing or you yourself are experience any of these symptoms:
Confusion
Fainting
No urination
Fast heart rate
Fast breathing
Also get immediate medical help if you or a loved one is experiencing signs of shock, such as:
Low blood pressure
Loss of consciousness
Cold, clammy extremities
Pale or bluish skin and nails
Recap
Mild dehydration can happen to anyone at any age. Thirst, dry mouth, and fatigue are some of the most common symptoms of dehydration and may indicate that you need to drink more fluids. The symptoms you experience depend on whether your dehydration is mild, moderate, or severe. If mild-to-moderate dehydration symptoms such as decreased urine output and dry skin are not recognised, the condition can progress and cause worsened symptoms such as no urine output and confusion. Most times, dehydration is mild and is reversed at home. When severe dehydration does occur, it's important to seek medical help so you can get the treatment you need and prevent any serious complications.
Extracts taken from Kristi Van Winkle, RN from www.health.com