6 Unusual Signs of Dehydration You Should Know About

Most of you already know these general symptoms of dehydration: thirst and dry mouth, dark urine. However, there are a few more subtle symptoms that you should know about to react at once, not allowing it to worsen and turn into something worse, or worse still-health complications. That's why in this blog, we will discuss six typical symptoms of dehydration, pointing out the significance of hydration.

1. Moods Shift

The Hydration-Mood Relationship

Most people do not know that their hydration levels affect their moods. There is direct evidence proved by researchers that dehydration is a direct influence of mood disturbances. At some other times, one gets irritability, anxiety, and depression during dehydration because water plays a very huge role in many body functions, including the regulation of neurotransmitters found in the brain, which thus result in some effects such as mood swinging.

How Dehydration Affects the Brain

And when you're dehydrated, your brain may not be all it could be either. Mild dehydration - just 1-2% loss of body weight - can increase self-reported feelings of fatigue and anxiety, research has shown. You might feel under some kind of stress or anxiety without feeling "stressed out."

What to Watch For

You may already know; a crumby or nervously unnatural proportion perhaps indicates the time to notice your hydration status. H2O and hydrating food consumables can balance that out and get back in balance right as rain.

2. Bad Breath

Why Dehydration Impacts Oral Health

One of the lesser reported symptoms of dehydration is to have poor breath, or bad breath, or halitosis. When you are dehydrated your body will produce less saliva, and saliva doesn't then have the normal cleanliness and mouth conditioning because this is a very important flushing agent in your mouth. And because of not having the normal amount of saliva to wash away food particles and bacteria, you may end up with an excessive amount of bacteria in your mouth causing foul breath.

Role of Saliva

Saliva, aside from its role in digestion, has extremely important functions in oral hygiene, including neutralizing acids produced by bacterial plaque in the mouth and supplying the mouth with everything it needs to break down its food. Neither of these functions is permitted your mouth when it is dry from dehydration.

Dehydration - Fighting Against Bad Breath

To address dryness-related mouth odor, drink more liquids and rub sugar-free gums or mints that can induce the production of saliva, or brush and floss your teeth.

View More: Can Dehydration Cause Erectile Dysfunction All You Need To Know

3. Change in Skin Elasticity due to Dehydration

Skin Indicator of Dehydration

Your skin indeed can be a reliable indicator of your hydration status, it has lost its elasticity and one rather unusual sign that your body can be dehydrated-it is indicated if the skin is elasticky to the touch; this is because your skin may lose its plumpness and elasticity.

Testing on Skin Elasticity

You can try it by pinching the back of your hand; the speed at which it returns to normal may give you a gauge on how hydrated you are, and if some time has elapsed to regain its normal appearance, that could be dehydration.

Hydration Boost for Your Skin

Additionally, for your skin to be more elastic, you should ensure that is sufficiently hydrated during the day. However, this can easily be achieved when hydration agents such as hyaluronic acid are applied to moisturizers to maintain your skin adequately moist.

4. Headaches and Migraines

Moreover, dehydration may be one of the causes for a worse migraine. This is because less fluid in the body refers to fewer supplies of blood in the veins. Of course, less oxygen supplied to the brain may call for a headache or at worst, migraines.

Common symptoms of dehydration headaches:

Although it is easy to note it as a headache in the head, this may aggravate if the condition has not received the right medical treatment. Other accompanying symptoms are dizziness, drowsiness, and increased sensitivity of light and sound.

Preventive measures on dehydration headaches include maintaining the steady intake of water during the day with exposure to heat or moderate physical activities. Dehydration headache will be relieved if rehydration is regained along with rest in a cool, dark place.

5. Muscle Cramps

Effects of Dehydration on Muscles

Other bizarre symptom of dehydration is muscle cramping many people would never even imagine. When dehydrated, your body loses those very important electrolytes which govern muscular movement in just such an odd way: sodium, potassium, and magnesium. A lack of any one of these electrolytes can induce spasms or cramps in the muscles.

Admit to dehydration-related cramping

Muscle cramps may be triggered both at times of exercise and even when you are resting. However, if you think your muscle cramps are incessant, especially after sweating or as a result of a workout, then dehydration might be the cause.

Hydration Tips on the Muscles

Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise to help prevent muscle cramps. Replace lost electrolytes with the help of sport drinks or by consuming potassium-rich foods like bananas and high magnesium food sources such as nuts.

6. Constipation

Digestive Fitness

No doubt, long-lasting dehydration may bring digestive disorders. The matter may become even worse if the problem is not solved in due time. If you think that you are constipated more often, perhaps your drinking habits also need recultivating.

To avoid constipation, you should drink at least 8 cups of water a day, more when you are into athletic activities or spending your time in a hot location. On top of that, taking in more fiber will facilitate the digestive system through fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Changes in Urine Color and Odor

Understanding Urine as an Indicator of Hydration

Most people understand that a dehydrated person's urine will be darker. This is one of the more primitive manifestations of dehydration, and there is usually far more to learn from changes in urine.

What to Look For

• Color: Hydrated urine normally is pale straw-colored, and the darkening will begin there as dehydration starts to set in: from amber to brown. That is a sure alert when you spot a drastic deviation from that color norm to drink up.
• Odor: Concentrated urine smells more potent because the waste materials are concentrated. A sweet or fruity odor could indicate a greater issue such as diabetes, but most of the time, it only reflects insufficient hydration.  

Accurate Detection of Changes in Urine

Some useful checks that help people monitor their hydration levels during the day include monitoring urine color and smell. More fluids should be taken if urine is consistently dark colored or smells strong.

Conclusion

Dehydration can come through some not-so-noticed ways apart from obvious common symptoms human beings feel. Since there are different signs that include changes in mood, bad breath, changes in the elasticity of your skin, headaches, muscle cramps, and constipation, this proactive approach to proper hydration can always add on. Hydration does not only reflect the fluids taken in but also talks about hydrating foods and health acumen. Be able to change your life by keeping a record of your fluid intake and being attuned to when your body lets you know it needs more.

Please book an appointment with the Best Nutritionist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.