What are Signs of Dehydration?
By Lydia Wallie, Nutrition Director
Some signs of dehydration become such a daily occurrence, that we may fail to realize the root cause of the symptoms and the impact they have on overall quality of life and performance. Through developing awareness of what these symptoms are, we can learn to be proactive in hydrating before they arise.
Early symptoms of dehydration include:
Fatigue
Anxiety
Irritability
Depression
Cravings
Cramps
Headaches
Signs of further dehydration include:
Heartburn
Joint Pain
Back Pain
Migraines
Fibromyalgia
Constipation
Colitis (1)
Additional signs of dehydration to watch for include: impaired physical performance with limited strength, power, and high-intensity endurance (2), higher rates of perceived exertion during exercise (3), reduced tolerance to heat (4), lowered alertness or cognitive function, and loss of concentration. (5)
Since consuming water isn’t the complete answer to hydration, and many “hydration drinks” aren’t the healthiest option, stay tuned to learn more about how to hydrate well in an upcoming post.
Source List:
(1) Nutritional Therapy Association: Module 8, Hydration
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17887814
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1921673