Severe dehydration
If you don’t do something about your dehydration, you develop severe
symptoms. Here are some of the more troublesome signs of dehydration:
- Sunken eyes
- Irritability and confusion
- Low blood pressure
- Little or no urination
- No tears when crying
- Rapid heartbeat
- Your skin doesn’t bounce back when you pinch it
- Unconsciousness
Dehydration in infants
The signs of dehydration we explained are mild symptoms in adults.
But infants are vulnerable to dehydration as well. And it’s even more
challenging, as they need immediate attention. Here are some symptoms of
dehydration in infants:
- Few wet diapers
- Fast breathing
- No tears when the baby cries
- Sunken soft spot on their head
- Drowsiness
How to check whether you’re dehydrated
In addition to watching for early signs of dehydration, there are two simple methods you can use to check for dehydration.
The first one is the skin test. Grab a roll of skin on the back of
your hand (use two fingers for this). The area you’re targeting is
between your fingers and your watch. Pull the skin up, and then let it
go—your skin should spring back to the normal position in just a second.
If your skin bounces back slowly, you’re dehydrated.
The second test is the urine test. When you have the right amount of
fluids, your urine is mostly clear. However, when you take a pee, and
your urine is a chardonnay, orange, or yellow color, your body is
sending you a warning sign. The early sign is a yellow color, while
orange is a sign of severe dehydration.
Should you seek medical care?
In most cases, you can easily take care of dehydration by drinking
water and taking some electrolytes. However, there are situations for
which you need medical care. If you notice/experience any of the
following symptoms, check with your doctor:
- Fever over 101oF
- Constant vomiting that lasts for more than a day
- Diarrhea that lasts for more than two days
- Weakness
- Sluggishness
- Chest or abdominal pain
- No urine in the last 12 hours
- Fainting and difficulty breathing
How to stay hydrated
The best way to prevent dehydration is to stay hydrated. And that’s
an easy task to accomplish. I always believe in the premise that it is
better to prevent something than cure to it. So, I would like to share
some tips and tricks to stay hydrated.
What about sports drinks?
One of the most marketed products nowadays is sports drinks. The
premise is that sports drinks keep you hydrated. Well, that’s a lot of
nonsense. Mainstream media will not tell you, but sports drinks are rich
in high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This common sweetener is almost as
dangerous as table sugar, and their chemical composure is almost the
same. In addition to keeping you dehydrated, HFCS has an erosive effect
on your teeth.
Therefore, I recommend that you stay away from sports drinks. Sodas,
commercial fruit juices, and all other beverages that contain sweeteners
are also a no-no.