Dehydration Symptoms and Signs
In many cases rapid weight loss means dehydration. During some days the person can lose up to several kilograms. Rapid weight loss, more than 10% of the total weight is considered harmful.
Dehydration symptoms are difficult to distinguish from symptoms of other diseases, but in general mild dehydration has the following early signs and symptoms:
- High thirst.
- Dry mouth and adhesive saliva.
- Reduced urination, when the urine color becomes dark yellow.
- Fatigue.
Secondary dehydration symptoms include:
- Extreme thirst.
- Dryness of the mouth; crying without tears.
- Reduced urination, or half of the normal urination amount for 24 hours (usually 3 or fewer urination). The urine is dark yellow or brown.
- Slight dizziness.
- Cold feet and hands.
- Increased heart rate.
- Loss of appetite.
Severe dehydration may be presented by one or more of the next symptoms:
- Changes in behavior, such as increased sense of fear, embarrassment, inattention.
- Dizziness, which does not disappear when the victim lies down.
- Inability to get up and walk.
- Hurried breathing.
- Weak, rapid pulse.
- Cold and sticky skin, or hot and dry skin.
- Decreased or no urination for 12 hours or longer.
- Loss of consciousness.
In the case of severe dehydration there is no enough fluid to bring the blood to vital organs in the body. Severe dehydration should be treated in hospital. If you notice any severe dehydration symptoms, immediately call an ambulance or other medical service.
After intensive or continuous vomiting or diarrhea throughout the day it is very probably some of dehydration symptoms follow, such as:
- high fever;
- weight loss;
- reduced urination;
- stupefaction;
- weakness.
Take the patient into the hospital, if he/she has:
- High temperatures above 39 ° C;
- Unconsciousness;
- Lethargy;
- Headache;
- Seizures;
- Trouble breathing;
- Chest pain;
- No urination for 12 hours.
This information is very helpful. I am going to use it to teach small children about dehydration. But the brown urine? That is just disgusting. 🙁
Very helpful. I was seaching for signs of dehydration to determine my current status because I’ve been very sick and sleepy all day and believed I was dehydrated. Now I know I am and will be going to the E.R. shorty. Thanks for your article.
Duh, The body is more then 70% water. If you don’t replenish it your body will in essences, lock up. Many health problems arise from not consuming enough “water” Not sodas, beer, coffee, teas, but water and lots of it. 8 glasses a day or more. It is difficult to drink enough water everyday to sustain our bodies but it has to be done. I drink Half my weight in ounces everyday. In otherwords I weigh 240 so half of that is 120. I should drink 120 ounces of water everyday and let me tell you that is hard to do.
This has been useful. I have been feeling “odd” for a few weeks and was starting to think it was somethign really nasty. Doc suggested dehydration and workign through the symptoms and what I ave been experiencing she is right.
I never realised dehydration could cause so many problems. I knew about the urine etc but not the dizziness and tiredness. Hmmm!
Helpful site! Thanks!
I had every sympton falling under the catagory of secondary dehydration symptoms.Haven’t been able to sleep for two days and didnt know why. After watching this video im now doing like Bobby Boschey if you no what I mean. Feeling like I can fall asleep finally after just one cold tall glass of water. Thank You
Clear,helpful and complete info-thanks!I was just checking if i was dehydrated because i’ve lost my appetite,can’t sleep and hav noticed my lips are cracking.Normally drink plenty but been staying at a friends who’s a coffee fiend!Now i know why i’m off colour!
Fred, you are not totally correct.
Firstly, at least half of our water needs comes from food, so you don’t need to drink 8 glasses of water per day (unless you have very small glasses in your home).
Secondly, it’s not true that you are only hydrated from plain water. Though it’s true that alcoholic and caffeinated drinks can have dehydrating or diuretic effects, the actual volume of useful liquid is still usually far higher than the ‘negative’ effect.
You’re drinking 3.5 litres of water every day? Max is 1-2 (given what’s already stated about water via food intake). Unless you are doing extreme exercise causing you to lose fluids, that’s potentially TOO MUCH. No wonder it’s hard for you to do! You know it’s possible to have too much water? It can affect the balance of salts and minerals in your body, and cause just as many problems as too little water (just different ones).
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