Not Urinating or Very Dark Urine
Normal urine should be pale yellow, like lemonade. If your urine is a darker color, similar to apple juice, this could be a sign of moderate to severe dehydration. If you're not urinating at all, you're most likely severely dehydrated. This requires immediate medical attention.
In severe cases, dehydration can lead to shock or even death. If you or your child is vomiting, has a fever, or is unable to urinate, you should go to the ER right away.
If you're not urinating at all, it's likely you're severely dehydrated and should get immediate medical attention. Not sweating. Without enough fluids to function normally, your body can start to overheat, which can quickly lead to heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Headache and dizziness.
Moderate cases of dehydration may require you to visit the hospital and receive fluids intravenously of through an IV. Severe dehydration should be considered a medical emergency as it can be fatal when it is not treated.
A person needs IV fluids when they become dangerously dehydrated. Serious dehydration may occur when you: Are sick (vomiting and diarrhea). Exercise too much or spend too much time in the heat without drinking enough.
You can usually treat mild dehydration at home by drinking more fluids. Moderate cases may need to go to the hospital to receive intravenous (IV) fluids. Severe dehydration is a medical emergency. It could be fatal if not treated.
Prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure. Seizures. Electrolytes — such as potassium and sodium — help carry electrical signals from cell to cell.
Rehydrating Your Body
It's recommended to drink at least 64 ounces of water every day. You can also receive the water you need from other beverages, fruits, and vegetables. Drinking coffee and tea in moderation can help contribute to hydration. Caffeine, however, can be extremely dehydrating.
It depends on a variety of factors such as how dehydrated you are and how much water you drink at once. In general, however, it usually takes about two hours for your body to rehydrate fully after drinking a significant amount of water.
For severe dehydration, start IV fluids immediately. If the patient can drink, give ORS by mouth while the IV drip is set up. Ringer's lactate IV fluid is preferred. If not available, use normal saline or dextrose solution.
For moderate to severe dehydration, you may need IV (intravenous) fluids. Severe dehydration is a medical emergency. It needs to be treated right away with IV fluids in a hospital. For mild dehydration, you can drink fluids.
If you are dehydrated, it's important to rehydrate as quickly as you can. With beginning symptoms of dehydration, you can rehydrate by consuming fluids that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions.
Water. While it likely comes as no surprise, drinking water is most often the best and cheapest way to stay hydrated and rehydrate. Unlike many other beverages, water contains no added sugars or calories, making it ideal to drink throughout the day or specifically when you need to rehydrate, such as after a workout.
Research shows that milk is one of the best beverages for hydration, even better than water or sports drinks. Researchers credit milk's natural electrolytes, carbohydrates, and protein for its effectiveness.
For mild dehydration, you can often treat the condition at home. If the dehydration is due to vomiting, start by sipping small amounts of water. Drinking too fast can cause you to bring it all back up again, so go slowly to avoid another trip to the bathroom.
So, what if you drink loads of water each day but are still feeling thirsty and dehydrated? It can be a sign that something else is going on. Factors like your medication, how much you sweat and if you're sick can affect your levels of hydration.
If a person does not drink enough water, sweats profusely, or loses fluids through vomiting or diarrhea, it disrupts the body's fluid balance. If fluids are not quickly replenished, the blood thickens and the entire body goes into a state of alarm, and thus begins to cramp or shake.
Cantaloupe, grapefruit, strawberries, watermelon, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, sweet peppers, radishes, spinach, zucchini, and tomatoes are all at least 90% water. Soups, popsicles, water ice, and gelatins are also high in water.
Drink an ORS Before Bed
Instead of drinking a glass of water, drink an oral rehydration solution like DripDrop ORS, which also contains electrolytes that are essential for hydration. Try to drink the ORS an hour or two before bed so you don't wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.
When you go to bed dehydrated, you risk not getting a good night's rest. You may experience a dry mouth and dry nasal passages, which can cause snoring, even if you're not a regular snorer. This can keep you up, wake you up and not to mention, keep your partner up, too.
Getting a sufficient amount of high-quality sleep is an important part of preventing dehydration. The body goes through multiple complex processes during sleep that enable recovery for overall health.
1. Watermelon. Watermelon is very healthy and one of the most hydrating foods you can eat. A 1-cup (154-gram) serving contains over a half cup (118 ml) of water, in addition to some fiber and several important nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin A and magnesium.