What Are the Most Common Side Effects of Dehydration?
If you are trying to stay on track with your health, it is important to stay hydrated. You may not know that dehydration can sneak up on you. Dehydration is something no one should leave prolonged. It can end up happening silently, or it can get more severe and cause unwanted issues with the body. You may be wondering what exactly dehydration is. Dehydration is when the body is actively losing more fluids and hydration than it takes in. Not having this in balance can have some major health consequences if left untreated for a long time. Your body is regularly losing water through urine and sweat daily. It is important to replace this water in some way throughout the day. Many are unaware of how important this is. Many people may not even know that they are dehydrated or on the way to it. Whether in a mild or severe case, it is good to know how to identify the signs and symptoms and then how to treat them properly. In this article, we will look at some common side effects of dehydration and how bad it can get. We will then look into some ways it may be avoided and ways it can be treated effectively.
Some most common signs and symptoms of dehydration
There can be many different signs and symptoms of dehydration. These symptoms can range from mild-moderate to severe. Some people may have one or a combination of these symptoms, if not all of them. Some of these common symptoms of dehydration can be:
Mild to Moderate symptoms
- Being very thirsty
- Sweating
- Urinating less than seems normal
- Lack of energy
- Headaches
- Muscle cramps
Severe symptoms
- Feeling dizzy
- Rarely urinating or dark urine
- Rapid heartbeat
- Extremely dry skin
- Rapid breathing
- Chills or fever
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Fainting
What happens if dehydration is left untreated
If you suspect you may be severely dehydrated, it would be a good idea to consult with a health professional as soon as possible. It is very important to get it resolved if you have dehydration of any kind. Left untreated, it may get more severe and lead to unpleasant health problems. Some things that can happen if dehydration is left untreated and becomes severe are seizures, brain damage, and even death.
How to avoid dehydration
Avoiding dehydration is important. Be sure to make healthy choices. You can easily avoid dehydration just by taking a few precautions in your life. Take precautions such as:
- Dressing in light, cool clothes in the hotter summer months
- Avoid being in direct sunlight in the summer months.
- Drink the recommended amount of fluids, especially water, every single day. The recommended amount is typically half of your body weight in ounces per day.
- If you’re sick, increase your fluid intake if possible.
- If exercising or participating in a physical sport, increase fluid and water intake, especially before and after activity. Drinking electrolytes help as well during any kind of physical activity that makes you sweat.
- Avoid certain foods and drinks such as coffee, alcohol, and salty foods. If you indulge in these or similar foods or drinks while already dehydrated, they can further dehydrate you and make it even worse. Choose hydrating foods and drinks instead. We will go over what some of those are later on.
Some ways to treat dehydration
If you are already dehydrated, You’ll need to know how to treat it effectively. Getting your dehydration resolved is important to remain healthy and avoid other health risks. The good news is that treatment is available for dehydration, even if it is severe. Be sure to avoid anything that can further dehydrate your body. Some things that can further dehydrate the body are very high sugar drinks, caffeine, and alcohol. Let’s look at some of the best ways to rehydrate your body.
Rehydration through intake of certain foods and liquids
Certain foods and liquids can be better than others to help treat your dehydration. Many foods can help hydrate the body. Some good foods that are very healthy and hydrating are watermelon, cucumber, celery, blackberries, lettuce, soups or broths, carrots, spinach, and grapefruit. Most fruits and vegetables are going to be hydrating and are a great choice to have if trying to avoid dehydration or starting to feel any symptoms.
The best liquids to drink if you are dehydrated are water, electrolyte-infused water or other drinks, Pedialyte, Gatorade, and coconut water. As stated already, be sure to avoid any foods or drinks that can make your dehydration even worse.
Rehydration through drip IV treatments
If you don’t have time to wait for the digestive system process for the supplements and food and drinks to hydrate the body, there is a much faster option. This is the best option, especially for those with severe dehydration symptoms. Drip IV treatments are available for effectively treating dehydration. Hydration, vitamins, and electrolytes will be injected directly into the veins. It has an immediate positive effect on the body. This can help recover from any form of dehydration in the fastest way. There is no downtime to this treatment. You will most likely feel replenished right away. If dehydration is severe, multiple treatments may be beneficial. Even if not dehydrated, IV therapy is a good option to avoid it. Many people find it harder to drink enough fluids, especially as they age. Athletes also may have a harder time consuming enough hydration and vitamins through diet only as well. IV therapies are a great option for these individuals as well as everyone else. It will be able to replenish vitamins as well as hydration. If you are worried about staying hydrated and want some help achieving it fast, IV therapy is a great option for you.
Get Rid of Dehydration with Drip Hydration
Drip Hydration provides in-home IV infusions for fast relief from dehydration, headaches and more. We bring your appointment directly to you whether you’re at home, work, or the gym.
All IV treatments are administered by one of our certified medical experts for a safe and hassle-free appointment. Give us a call or book online today!
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