6 Dehydration Symptoms that aren't always so obvious...
Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid, or more fluid than it's taking in, according to the US National Library of Medicine's resource MedlinePlus.
You can become dehydrated for a number of reasons, but the main culprits include: diarrhea, vomiting, sweating too much, urinating too much, having a fever, or (simply) not drinking enough. And it doesn't take much to become dehydrated: if you lose just 1.5% of the water in your body, you've reached the tipping point of dehydration.
How can you tell if you are dehydrated?
Bad breath
Notice your breath smelling lately? It could be because you haven't drunk enough water lately. Saliva has important antibacterial properties, When dehydrated, the decreased saliva in the mouth allows bacteria to thrive, resulting in bad breath. Sugar Cravings
Dehydration can mask itself as hunger, or more specifically as sugar cravings. This is more likely to happen if you've been exercising. When you exercise in a dehydrated state, you use glycogen, or stored carbohydrates, at a faster rate, thus diminishing your stores more quickly. So once you finish exercising, you will likely crave carbs (aka sugar) to help you replenish those glycogen levels. Pro tip: Before reaching for a chocolate bar, drink a tall glass of water and wait five minutes. You might not be as hungry as you think.
Dry skin
Your skin will let you know if you haven't been drinking enough water.
Dehydrated skin will feel tight and appear dull when you look in the mirror. You may even notice more exaggerated wrinkles or darker-than-usual under eye circles. A quick test if you're feeling less than hydrated: Pinch your cheek; if it wrinkles with gentle pressure instead of holding its shape, it's begging you for water. For smooth, moisture-rich skin, a suggestion is to keep showers short (less than five minutes) and using only lukewarm water, as hot water can dry your skin out even more.
Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure can manifest in a few different ways, including nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision, so it's important to be aware of those, as many of us don't have blood pressure cuffs at home.
Low blood pressure can be especially dangerous, as it means your blood isn't getting properly sent to critical organs, including your brain. Certain blood pressure medications act as diuretics, which make the body urinate fluid out of it much faster. People who take these medications are more susceptible to becoming dehydrated, The good news?
Most people can fix that simply by drinking water.
Chills
It may seem counter intuitive, but dehydration can bring on chills. "This occurs because your body starts to limit blood flow to the skin, In addition, water holds heat, so if you become hydrated it can be more difficult to regulate your body temperature, which can make you get chilly faster, even when you're not in a cold environment.
Muscle cramps
When your body isn't getting enough water, it slows down blood circulation, which can make your muscles cramp up. The body will protect its vital organs, so it shifts fluid away from muscles and anything that's not vital. Changes in sodium and potassium through sweat loss can also contribute to cramping. Cramps can be extremely painful and make muscles feel harder to the touch.
