Water is essential for our bodies. It’s involved in almost every function, from regulating temperature to aiding digestion and keeping our joints lubricated.
When we don’t get enough water, we become dehydrated, and this can cause many problems.
Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluids than you take in, and it can occur due to various reasons such as not drinking enough water, sweating excessively, or having an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea.
Understanding what happens to your body when it’s dehydrated can help you take steps to prevent it and stay healthy.
When you’re dehydrated, the effects on your body can range from mild discomfort to serious health issues. Here are the key stages and symptoms of dehydration:
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Early Signs of Dehydration
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- You might start to feel thirsty. Your body has a natural way of telling you it needs more water.
- Your mouth might feel dry and sticky, and your skin may lose its elasticity and become dry.
- Your urine can change color. When you’re well-hydrated, your urine is light yellow. Darker urine can be a sign that you need more fluids.
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Progressing Dehydration
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- You may begin to feel fatigued and weak. Dehydration can make you feel unusually tired or weak because your muscles don’t have enough water to function properly, causing muscle cramps or general weakness.
- You might also experience headaches and dizziness, which can make you feel lightheaded, especially when you stand up quickly.
- Another sign of advancing dehydration is decreased urine output, meaning you urinate less frequently, and when you do, the amount is small.
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Severe Dehydration
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- Your heart might start to beat faster, and you might notice your breathing becomes quicker than usual. This happens because your heart works harder to pump blood when you don’t have enough fluids.
- Your blood pressure might drop, leading to a risk of fainting.
- Severe dehydration also affects brain function, causing confusion, irritability, and even disorientation. In extreme cases, it can lead to delirium or unconsciousness.
- If dehydration reaches a critical point, it can cause hypovolemic shock, a life-threatening condition where your blood volume is too low for your heart to pump enough blood to your body.
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