A picture of water dropping from above on two hands with their palms up

Can Dehydration Cause Nausea?

Can dehydration cause nausea? Yes, dehydration can indeed cause nausea, as it leads to a decrease in blood volume, resulting in symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, and dry mouth.1 To alleviate nausea caused by dehydration, it’s essential to rehydrate with water, electrolyte-rich sports drinks, or juices. In severe cases, IV therapies can be utilized for rapid rehydration. Addressing dehydration promptly is crucial to prevent more serious conditions such as hypovolemic shock.

Get Dehydration IV Therapy

Fast and effective relief for dehydration through a blend of IV fluids and electrolytes delivered in the comfort of your own home and administered by one of our certified nurses.

When you’re nauseous and tired, it can be difficult to get out of bed, much less work up the motivation to clean and prepare food. Unfortunately, if you aren’t able to eat, you aren’t getting fluids either. Dehydration can be extremely dangerous and even deadly if not treated properly, so it’s important to address this issue quickly before your condition worsens.

Nausea symptoms

The most common symptom of dehydration is feeling nauseous. Dehydration causes your body to lose its ability to control its temperature, which will make you feel warmer or colder than usual. You may also have an upset stomach or cramps. Dehydration will also cause your mouth and eyes to feel dry, making your skin look dull and dehydrated. These symptoms are usually caused by a drop in blood volume, which normally sustains many of these body functions.

Dehydration causing nausea

Let’s talk about why you feel sick to your stomach when you’re thirsty. First of all, thirst is one of your body’s oldest ways of signaling you need water. Over time, we have built systems that send signals when our bodies get too hot or too cold and before we run out of air, but getting dehydrated was always a silent killer. Your body sends warning signs to let you know something isn’t right. You may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, headaches, and cramps—all symptoms of not having enough fluids in your system.

How to rehydrate when nauseous

Dehydration is one of several causes of nausea. When you become dehydrated, your body’s fluids are reduced, and if there is not enough water in your system, it can result in a loss of strength and balance. When you suffer from dizziness, lightheadedness, or headaches, these are signs that you need to drink more water.

In addition to water, other fluids can help combat dehydration and relieve your symptoms. Sports drinks and juices also contain water and electrolytes, which are nutrients in your body that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and fluid levels. Doctors recommend drinking these types of fluids if you’re suffering from a particularly bad case of nausea.

Another option that’s grown in popularity is at-home IV therapies. They can be used to quickly rehydrate your body and bring you back to a healthy state of mind. While they may sound scary, it’s important to note that they aren’t invasive and only require a small needle to be inserted into your arm. The fluid is injected directly into your bloodstream and will start working immediately. Companies like Drip Hydration are offering this service throughout the country. Simply pick a time that works for you and relax while your nausea fades away. It can be used as needed when nausea is bad and regularly for preventative measures.

Summary of dehydration nausea

Dehydration occurs when we fail to replenish fluids lost through perspiration, urination, and exhalation. This shortage can lead to dehydration; when our body becomes severely dehydrated, it enters a state known as hypovolemic shock. Nausea is one of many symptoms of hypovolemic shock. Fortunately, individuals experiencing nausea due to dehydration may be treated with IVs. In some cases, dehydrated patients can get relief by simply drinking water. However, in other instances, an IV is needed to rehydrate a patient quickly. If you or someone you know experiences nausea from dehydration, don’t hesitate to contact someone immediately. Don’t wait until it gets bad; this information can also be useful for preventative measures.

Get Rid of Dehydration

Rehydrate your body fast with a mobile IV infusion. Our treatments are administered by one of our licensed nurses at your location. Experience quick relief from dehydration-related symptoms such as headaches and fatigue.

Click the button below or give us a call to make an appointment!

References

[1] Watanabe K, Stöhr EJ, Akiyama K, Watanabe S, González-Alonso J. Dehydration reduces stroke volume and cardiac output during exercise because of impaired cardiac filling and venous return, not left ventricular function. Physiol Rep. 2020 Jun;8(11):e14433. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14433. PMID: 32538549; PMCID: PMC7294577.;