Dehydration SymptomsDehydration Symptoms Since the body is made up primarily of water, it's no surprise we need to keep it hydrated to function properly. If by chance you've spent too much time out in the sun or had a bad diet for the past week, dehydration symptoms can occur. Knowing what they are ahead of time will allow any sufferer the ability to fix the problem. Dry Mouth or Thirst We'll start with the easy one just to get it out of the way. Dry mouth and thirst go hand in hand and are one of the first desiccation symptoms a person can experience. Even if a person takes in their typical 6-8 glasses of water a day, it might not be enough. It's important to take into account all the various activities that are being accomplished throughout the day. When the body is exerted more, the thirst and dry mouth factor are more susceptible to set in without hesitation. Flushed Skin Dehydration doesn't necessarily shut down the body, but it begins to offer several side effects along the way. One of the first that will be noticed is flushed skin. It's basically telling the individual that the inside of the body is heating up and it needs to be cooled down. However, this doesn't mean grab a Mountain Dew and everything will be fine. In fact, sodas that are high in sugar can actually cause more drying out overtime. No Desire to Eat Oddly enough when the desiccation process begins, it can cause the body to refrain from taking in anything. This includes food and the loss of appetite could be present for a full day. Keep in mind this may be from other problems within the system, but if the body is dehydrated it won't want to eat anything. Obviously, we all need food, so it's important to stomach little things like fruit to keep the nutrients flowing. The juice alone from an orange or apple could make all the difference in your recovery. Becoming Weak Eventually if nothing seems to be working, and the body isn't getting the proper nutrients, it will begin to feel weak. This is not only due to the drying out itself, but also the issues that develop because of the body being dehydrated. Whether it's sleep or just feeling like you're about to pass out, this all develops from the lack of nutrition the body is experiencing. In order to stay strong, it's important to eat and drink, but lightly. Too much can result in other issues. Other Dehydration Symptoms Even though these are the main symptoms in the early stages of becoming dehydrated, a person could experience others as well. Things like darker urine, head rushes, and even the chills here and there can be present when the body is going through a desiccation process. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning, and things can get much worse if it's not taken care of properly. More Severe Issues If the body's drying out process is not counteracted with fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals, more severe issues can develop. While there are specific indications of a bigger issue, the symptoms revolve around heavy breathing, increased heart rates, and an overall increase in your body temperature. This indicates that the body has lost around 5% of its water supply. When this occurs, it's possible for a person to become bed ridden with nausea, extreme fatigue issues, cramps throughout the body, and even tingling in the arms and legs. Unfortunately, this is just the short list to many other desiccation issues out there. If this stage is reached, it might be wise to contact the family doctor and see if they can combat the problem with a prescription. Fatal Problems In extreme cases, it is possible to have a fatal reaction to desiccation. Obviously, this doesn't occur too often at someone's place of residence, but it can happen. Once this stage has been reached, the vomiting and nausea could be rejecting any of the fluids or nutrients that are trying to be put back into the system. This makes it extremely difficult to heal the body, so it's important to head to the ER. An IV will be able to replenish the system faster than normal fluids, but before it happens the dehydration symptoms that are being experienced could be unbearable. Whether its dimmed vision, continuous vomiting, abdominal or chest pain, muscle spasms, falling unconscious, or even a seizure occurs then this is the advanced stages of desiccation. This isn't something that a person should try to cure from home. The Treatment There isn't one simple treatment to cure all the desiccation problems the body can experience. The only way to combat it is by preventing it from happening all together. There are specific drinks and regimens that can be used to keep the body hydrated, but it's going to depend on the individual. We just recommend staying hydrated so no one ever has to experience these dehydration symptoms.
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