Dehydration can occur quite easily, especially if you’re working out in the summer heat. It can be so severe that it even causes death. However, there are types of mild dehydration that may occur every day that don’t have an immediate obvious effect, but can cause damage that can range from mild to severe. The body requires water. In fact, about 60 percent of the body is water, with up to 73 percent of the brain and heart water, 83 percent of the lungs water and even though it may not seem like it, the bones even have a high percentage of water, 31 percent! To avoid a serious condition, whether acute or chronic, you need to look for signs you might need to drink more water
Water does so much for your body.
Water helps lubricate joints, flush waste from the body and aids in the conversion of food to the basic components for use. It helps to maintain the regulation of body temperature through perspiration and protects the brain and spinal cord by acting as a shock absorber. The body needs water to grow, reproduce and help cells survive. It’s necessary in the brain to create hormones and also keeps the mucus membranes moist.
You should recognize the first sign, but not all people do.
The most obvious sign that you need to drink more water is thirst! It’s that cottony feeling in your mouth that is a sign from the brain that your body is in dire need of water. However, not everyone speaks body or has learned the art of listening to their body. To make matters worse, some of the cues for hunger are the same as thirst. They may include lightheadedness, difficulty focusing and even a mild headache. If you think you’re hungry, the first thing you should do is get a big glass of water. It’s zero calories and carbs, so if you’re wrong, you’re not messing with your weight loss plan.
As mentioned previously, dehydration can lead to a headache.
A headache, difficulty focusing and lightheadedness or dizziness are all signs of dehydration. Those are also signs of low blood sugar and severe hunger, too. If you’re out in the sun exercising and suddenly get dizzy, don’t even consider hunger as a possibility, immediately get some water. The darker your urine, the more dehydrated you are. Constipation and dry skin also occurs when you’re dehydrated.
- Other signs to watch for that mean you need to drink some H2O include tiredness. I find that when I’m tired and need to stay awake, instead of reaching for a cup of Joe, a tall glass or bottle of water helps wake me up even better and I don’t end up with the jitters.
- Muscle cramps can occur if you’re dehydrated.
- Pinch your skin to see if you need to drink more water. Skin normally snaps back quickly when you pinch it. If it stays dented or takes some time returning to normal, you’re probably dehydrated.
- If your face is red and you’re extremely hot, but there’s no sweat coming from your body, get some water as fast as you can. If you’re dehydrated your body won’t make sweat, which is the body’s method of cooling.