Dehydration occurs when the body has insufficient water to function properly. While mild dehydration may be just uncomfortable, more severe dehydration can lead to blood clots, seizures, and other potentially fatal complications.
5 surprising signs you are dehydrated
Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions.
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Anyone may become dehydrated, but the condition is especially dangerous for young children and older adults.
The most common cause of dehydration in young children is severe diarrhea and vomiting. Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies, and may have conditions or take medications that increase the risk of dehydration.
- Bad Breath
When you are dehydrated, your body doesn’t produce enough saliva.
“If you’re not producing enough saliva, you can get bacteria overgrowth in the mouth, and one of the side effects of that is bad breath,” says John Higgins.
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- Fever and Chills
If your body is severely dehydrated you may experience fever and chills. Fever, in turn, can worsen dehydration, and the higher the fever, the more dehydrated you may become.
- Headaches
Mild dehydration can cause a dehydration headache and even trigger a migraine headache. Always drink more fluids during the day to prevent a headache and promote general health.
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- Constipation
The colon removes extra water from the stool to send to other parts of the body when you're dehydrated. This can slow bowel movements, causing bloating and constipation, according to Dr. McStay.
- Dry skin
When your body is dehydrated, you don't only suffer on the inside. "Skin loses elasticity because it has less water in it, therefore it stiffens up," Dr. McStay explains. So if your skin looks especially sullen, this could be why.
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