Severe dehydration can lead to injury or fatal complications, and it requires an ER visit. Seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypovolemic shock can occur because your blood volume is too low.
1. Bad Breath
Saliva has antibacterial properties, but dehydration can prevent your body from making enough saliva.
“If you’re not producing enough saliva, you can get bacterial overgrowth in the mouth, and one of the side effects of that is bad breath,” says John Higgins, MD, a professor of medicine at UT Health Houston’s McGovern Medical School and senior cardiologist at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.
2. Dry or Flushed Skin
“A lot of people think that people who get dehydrated are really sweaty, but in fact, as you go through various stages of dehydration, you get very dry skin,” Dr. Higgins says, adding that skin may appear flushed as well.
Another key skin-related symptom of dehydration is a loss of skin elasticity. This can cause skin to remain “tented” after being pinched, taking some time to return to its normal appearance. (More on that below.)
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,” Higgins says. “As the muscles work harder and harder, they can seize up from the heat itself. Changes in the electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, can lead to muscle cramping as well.”
4. Fever and Chills
5. Food Cravings, Especially for Sweets
“When you’re dehydrated, it can be difficult for organs such as the liver, which uses water, to release glycogen [stored glucose] and other components of your energy stores, so you can actually get cravings for food,” Higgins says.
While you can crave anything from chocolate to a salty snack, cravings for sweets are more common because your body may be experiencing difficulty breaking down glycogen to release glucose into the bloodstream to use as fuel, he says.
6. Headaches
Are You Dehydrated, or Is It Something Else?
If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. But lack of thirst doesn’t necessarily mean you’re well hydrated. Here are two other ways to check your hydration.
- Try this skin test. Use two fingers to pinch up some skin on the back of your hand, and then let go. The skin should spring back to its normal position in less than a couple of seconds. Higgins says that if the skin returns to normal more slowly, you might be dehydrated.
- Check your urine. If you’re well hydrated, your urine will be mostly clear with a tinge of yellow (the color of light lemonade before it hits the bowl). Amber or orange are the “warning” colors to watch for. If your pee is dark, start drinking fluids. (On the flip side, clear or transparent urine could mean you’re getting too much water.)
While it’s fairly straightforward to counter mild dehydration at home by drinking more water or drinks with electrolytes, severe dehydration requires immediate medical attention.
Call 911 or go to your local emergency room if you or a loved one experience the following symptoms:
- Fever of 103 degrees F or higher
- Muscle twitching
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness or fainting
- Confusion or hallucinations
- Seizures
The Takeaway
- Dehydration occurs when your body loses water and electrolytes, which can happen through sweating, illness, or simply not drinking enough fluids throughout the day.
- Unusual signs of dehydration include bad breath, dry or flushed skin, muscle cramps, fever and chills, food cravings (especially for sweets), and headaches.
- If you experience these signs of mild dehydration, start drinking water. If symptoms are more severe, including a fever, dizziness or faintness, confusion, or seizures, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Additional reporting by Sheryl Huggins Salomon, Laura McArdle, and Kristeen Cherney.
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