It is essential to drink fluids to avoid dehydration and problems associated with it. A normal person must consume 6-8 glasses of fluids per day, including water, milk, and juices. Drinking fluids helps to replenish fluid loss from sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea. Water is the best fluid to consume during the day.
In this guide, Physician from Hospital in West Delhi explain the meaning of dehydration, how it can affect your health, and when to visit a doctor.
What is dehydration?
Dehydration occurs when your body does not have enough fluid. It indicates that your body cannot work correctly. Sweating, diarrhoea, and vomiting are most common reasons.
You experience mild, moderate, or severe dehydration. If you are an adult, the severity of your dehydration is determined by how much fluid your body is losing. Dehydration in children is determined by the amount of body weight lost as a result of a lack of fluid intake.
Why is water essential for your body?
Without drinking water, you get dehydrated which makes you feel tired and worsens your condition overall. Water is essential for every cell in your body to function correctly. It helps with:
- Digestion
- Constipation
- Kidney function
- Flushing toxins from your body
- Skin repairing
- Maintaining body temperature
- Flushing toxins from the body.
Water makes up around 60% of the human body on average. The quantity of water in the body varies slightly with age, gender, and hydration level. While the average amount of water in a person’s body is around 60%, it can range from 45-75%.
Water is essential for your body in heated temperatures more than in normal. It prevents the body from overheating. When you work out, your muscles produce heat. Sweating is the primary way your body loses heat in warm conditions. Sweat evaporates, cooling the tissues below. Sweating diminishes your body’s water level, which impacts regular bodily processes.
Weakness due to dehydration
When dehydrated, your body adjusts by tightening blood vessels and boosting your heart rate to stabilise your blood pressure. The body also sends blood away from the surface and into interior organs such as the brain and lungs. As dehydration develops, this defence will collapse. Lightheadedness, muscular cramps, and overall weakness are symptoms of the body’s inability to adjust for dehydration.
Levels of dehydration
Three levels of dehydration cause weakness in the body and may cause dire consequences if not treated properly.
- Mild: If you are somewhat dehydrated, the best thing you can do is drink plenty of water. Drink water in small amounts daily. You can also consume oral rehydration solutions purchased from your drugstore. Alternatively, you can prepare your rehydration fluids. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they could worsen dehydration.
- Moderate: If you are moderately dehydrated, a doctor will likely give you fluids through IV. Major problems can be averted with timely diagnosis and treatments.
- Severe: If you are severely dehydrated, seek immediate medical assistance. Severe dehydration may cause brain damage and death in the worst cases. You must not neglect the power of fluids in your day-to-day lives.
Symptoms of dehydration
These are following symptoms:
Early signs
- Dark coloured urine
- Thirst
Other signs
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Tiredness
- Less urge to urinate
Signs of severe dehydration
- Feeling lethargic and confused
- Dizziness when you stand or while walking
- Not passing urine at all
- A weak pulse or a rapid pulse
- Unconscious
- Seizure (fits)
When to visit a doctor? How to find a ‘doctor near me’?
If you experience any of the severe dehydration symptoms, immediately seek medical assistance to prevent seizures, brain damage, or worse scenarios. This level of dehydration needs hospital treatment. UK Nursing Home in Vikas Puri is one such hospital in West Delhi to help you with weakness due to lack of fluids and prevent worse-case scenarios.
It is essential to drink fluids and eat fruits rich in water content. Electrolyte-added sports drinks are beneficial for persons in situations where the temperature is high and the activity is particularly strenuous. To avoid dehydration, take breaks from high temperatures in cooler regions and wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes when outside. Also, avoid alcohol consumption.
If you don’t know any family doctor you can also google ‘Doctor near me’ and choose a doctor with good ratings.
