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Clinical Symptoms of Dehydration

Water is a key element of the body, making adequate hydration a necessity for the body's normal daily functioning. Dehydration occurs when the body does not have the adequate hydration it needs, resulting in the body losing more fluid than it takes in, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of dehydration can range from mild to severe. Younger children, older adults and those with chronic illnesses are at a higher risk for developing the condition.

  1. Mild to Moderate Dehydration Symptoms

    • The Mayo Clinic points out that mild to moderate dehydration may cause symptoms such as thirst, a dry or sticky mouth, decreased urination, muscle weakness, headache, dizziness, a lightheaded feeling and sleepiness or tiredness. Oftentimes, mild to moderate dehydration is reversible by simply upping one's fluid intake.

    Severe Dehydration Symptoms

    • The symptoms of severe dehydration can include extreme thirst, irritability, confusion, very dry mouth and skin, lack of sweating, little to no urination, sunken eyes, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and fever. Very serious cases of dehydration can also cause delirium or unconsciousness in patients. The Mayo Clinic cautions that the symptoms of severe dehydration qualify as an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

    Complications from Dehydration

    • In some cases, the symptoms of dehydration can also cause some serious, potentially life-threatening complications. Some of these complications include heat injury (ranging from mild heat cramps to serious heatstroke), swelling of the brain, seizures, kidney failure, coma and hypovolemic shock, which happens when low blood volume leads to a decrease in blood pressure and a consequential decrease in the amount of oxygen reaching the body's tissues.

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