The word dehydration sounds pretty dramatic, we’ve seen the stories of marathon runners collapsing or being dragged over the finish line due to dehydration, but it’s actually more common than that. Dehydration occurs when you lose more water than you take on (as always with our bodies, there is a very delicate balance for optimum function). Whenever you feel thirsty, that is a sign that you’re already slightly dehydrated.
Here are 7 common symptoms of dehydration to look out for:
1. Headaches
Feeling a bit rough, we all (well, most) know the feeling of being hungover – that pounding head and general achiness (yes, it is a real word – I checked!). That’s caused by dehydration, and it doesn’t just happen after you’ve had a few too many the night before, you can wake up with a headache just from not consuming enough water.
2. Dizziness/feeling lightheaded
Feeling a bit out of it? A little shaky maybe? Try having a nice big glass of water and see how you feel.
3. Feeling tired
Keeping our bodies hydrated means that our organs can function optimally. When we don’t have enough water, things tend to slow down and that shows itself by making us feel tired.
4. Feeling hungry
This is a hard one to work out in the beginning, if in doubt always have a glass of water before reaching for the fridge just in case.
5. Being moody
This will often coincide with feeling hungry or feeling a bit grumpy and can often be linked with mild dehydration. We start to lose concentration and focus, making us less likely to want to do things.
6. Bad breath
Most will have suffered the dreaded morning breath, it has many causes, but essentially is due to a build-up of bacteria. This is thought to be significantly reduced by drinking a glass of water.
7. Constipation
Many things can lead to this, including poor digestion. If you drink plenty of water, your body has an easier time passing everything through the body.
Try to avoid these symptoms by making sure you get adequate water intake each day – have a glass of water when you wake up, and keep sipping water throughout the day. It might be a good idea to invest in a reusable water bottle to keep on hand when you’re out and about – many public places will happily refill it for you when you run out!