Drinking water is one of the most important things you can do daily to maintain good health. And since our bodies are made up of 70% water, it’s only fitting that we must replenish and hydrate regularly.
Dehydration can be the result of a number of factors, including diarrhea, fever, excessive sweating, and frequent urination caused by underlying health issues like undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes.
Signs of Dehydration
- Muscle cramps due to the body depleting the muscles of water.
- Headaches
- Fatigue: when you’re dehydrated the blood vessels directs available water from organs like the heart and brain, causing the rest of the body to slow.
- Dizziness caused by low levels of electrolytes.
- Dark or foul-smelling urine: Urine should be pale yellow with little-to-no odor.
- Dry mouth, lips or skin
- Bad breath due to low levels of saliva
- Sudden confusion coupled with other symptoms like fast pulse, fever, slow or rapid breathing or uncontrolled shivering.
- Sudden hunger or food cravings due to a low functioning liver.
- Skin that lacks elasticity. If you grab the skin on the back of your hand and it doesn’t snap back in place quickly when you let go, drink up.
Lastly, always drink good quality water and avoid tap water. Read more about water here.
