You know your body better than anyone else. There have been countless stories about people reporting that they have not been feeling well, only to go to a doctor who tells them they are fine. They go home but still do not feel “right,” and go to get a second opinion, where they find out that indeed, something was wrong and it was left diagnosed. If you have been feeling “off” as of late, it could be related to dehydration. There are many signs you can keep an eye out for that can signal whether you are dehydrated or not, and if left untreated, you can start to feel seriously ill.
Simply put, the body needs water to function. We are made up of 75 percent water, and dehydration is when the amount of water entering the body is less than that amount of water leaving the body. Even mild dehydration can lead to some negative health consequences and uncomfortable symptoms. Hydrating is important for everyone and can aid in weight loss and keeping your organs working properly. It can even help with digestion. Hydration is especially important for athletes and those who are working out.
If you’re trying to figure out if you might have dehydration, look for the following six symptoms. If you do not feel well and think you might be dehydrated, head to a 24 hour urgent care clinic.
1. Increased thirst
One of the biggest red flags of dehydration is increased thirst. If you’re not drinking enough water, your body is going to start craving it because it knows levels of water is getting lower than normal. If you feel especially thirsty, trying drinking a few glasses of water, and if you still feel thirsty, drinking some coconut water can help as it is incredibly hydrating and quenching. If you are seriously dehydrated and still don’t feel well after drinking water, consider visiting an urgent care clinic.
2. Dark urine
Water helps your body flush out toxins, but if you’re not getting enough, you’ll notice your urine is a darker color. A hydrated person will have very little color to their urine, or maybe just light yellow. If it’s darker, your body needs water.
3. Your skin is dry
Water helps keep your skin hydrated, just as it does every other part of your body. Your cells are made up of water, and without enough, your skin can get flaky and dry. If you notice your skin is losing moisture, it might be a sign of dehydration.
4. Headaches
Another sign of dehydration are increased headaches. What causes these? When the body does not have enough water, the brain can actually temporarily shrink and pull away from the skull, causing dehydration headaches.
5. Dry mouth
Again, without enough water, the body has difficulty functioning. If you notice that your mouth is getting dry, it might be signaling that your salivary glands aren’t able to produce enough saliva.
6. Dizziness
A serious symptom of dehydration is the feeling of dizziness. Dehydration can cause your blodd pressure to drop, which causes the feeling of dizziness. If you think you have dizziness do to dehydration, go to an urgent care clinic immediately. Dizziness is the second most common complaint heard in doctor’s offices, and about 70% of Americans will experience dizziness at some point in their lives. Doctors at urgent care clinics will know how to treat this symptom and get your body properly hydrated again.
Think you might be dehydrated? You can try drinking water and other quenching liquids, and eating foods with a high volume of water in them (fruit and cucumbers, for example). If you need medical attention, visit an urgent care clinic today.
