6 U n u s u a l S i g n s of D e h y d r a ti o n Taken from: http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/unusual-signs-of-dehydration/
Your breath, skin, and muscles may be telling you that your body is running low on water. Dehydration, which occurs when the body has insufficient water and other fluids to function properly, can lead to blood clots, seizures, and other potentially fatal complications. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration can have adverse effects on mood and energy. That’s why it’s so important to catch dehydration early on, but the signs aren’t always obvious ones like thirst and fatigue. Here are six surprising indicators that you might be dehydrated.
1. Bad breath Saliva has antibacterial properties in it, but dehydration can prevent your body from making enough saliva. If you’re not producing enough saliva in the mouth, you can get bacteria overgrowth and one of the side reactions of that is bad breath from chronic dehydration.
2. Dry skin A lot of people think that people who get dehydrated are really sweaty; but as you go through various stages of dehydration, you become very dizzy and you don’t have enough blood volume so you get very dry skin. Because the skin is dry and not evaporating as well, you can also experience flushing of the skin. You can get dehydrated in cooler seasons or climates. Symptoms may be milder or come on slower, but it’s still possible to be dehydrated in cooler weather.
3. Muscle cramps The hotter you get, the more likely you are to get muscle cramps, and that’s from a pure heat effect on the muscles. As the muscles work harder and harder, they can seize up from the heat itself. Changes in the electrolytes and changes in the sodium and potassium can lead to muscle cramping as well.
4. Fever and chills If your body is severely dehydrated you may experience symptoms like fever or even chills. Fever can be especially dangerous, so be sure to seek immediate medical help if your fever rises over 101°F.
5. Food cravings, especially for sweets When you’re dehydrated, it can be difficult for some nutrients and organs like the liver which use water to release some glycogens and other components of your energy stores, so you can actually get cravings for food. While you can crave anything from chocolate to a salty snack, cravings for sweets are more common because your body may be experiencing difficulty with glycogen productions. If you are craving for something sweet, reach for a snack that has high water content. Most fruits and vegetables have high water content and will help you stay hydrated.
6. Headaches The brain sits inside a fluid sack that keeps it from bumping against the skull, explains Higgins. If that fluid sack is depleted or running low because of dehydration, the brain can push up against parts of the skull, causing headaches. Some drinks that can cause dehydration include alcohol, energy drinks, and even caffeine as it has a slight diuretic effect.
Advice for Staying Hydrated • Keep your water bottle handy. Make a habit of sipping it regularly. • Spice up plain water. If you don’t love plain water, jazz it up by adding a splash of fruit juice or chunks of fresh or frozen fruit. • Makeover your snacks. Change dry, carby snacks like chips, pretzels, and crackers — which have a very low water content — with refreshing munchies like fresh or frozen fruit, yogurt, healthy smoothies, celery with peanut butter, and cut veggies with hummus. • Pile on the produce. Vegetables and fruit will supply water as well as a hearty dose of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. • Sip more during meals. Sipping water with meals will help you eat more slowly, pace your eating, and stay hydrated. • Choose for room temperature or cooler water. When it comes to fluids, steer clear of extreme temperatures. When ice water comes into the stomach it constricts the arteries surrounding the stomach, which help the stomach function properly and help with water absorption. Ice water will just sit in your stomach until it warms up. If you hear water swishing around in your stomach, it means the water is not getting absorbed. Fluids that are cooler or room temperature are better options. • Drink 2.7 liters of water a day. Water intake includes water gained from foods and other beverages like tea and milk.