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How to Identify Symptoms of Dehydration

Dehydration is caused due to lack of adequate fluid intake by the body. Dehydration afflicts both young and old, and is especially dangerous in infants and senior citizens. While dehydration may be mild, moderate or severe, any type of dehydration is not good for the body and may cause a multitude of problems if not addressed immediately. The body requires a certain amount of fluid in order to perform at optimal levels, and fluids are essential for all body systems, including circulatory, digestive and urinary tract functions. Learning how to identify symptoms of dehydration helps people to prevent it, as well as to identify risks and complications associated with it.

Things You'll Need

  • Water!
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Instructions

  1. Symptoms

    • 1

      Recognizing dehydration, which is a lack of adequate fluids in the body: Early symptoms may be increased thirst (experts state that if you are experiencing cravings for fluids, you are already dehydrated), a dry mouth, and in severe cases, a swollen tongue.

    • 2

      Look at the patient's urine. Another major sign of dehydration is dark or yellow urine. Many people believe that urine is supposed to be yellow, but actually, the clearer the urine, the better. Fluids help to flush toxins and waste products from the body, which is why it is so important to maintain fluid intake for maximum kidney function.

    • 3

      Study the patient's appearance: Moderate to severe cases of dehydration may be noted by the appearance of wrinkled skin or sunken eyes. Infants may not be able to produce tears when crying. Adults may notice that they are not sweating. These symptoms occur because the body is struggling to keep fluids inside.

    • 4

      Check for increased heart rate and breathing, which may be noted by those suffering from severe dehydration. Low blood pressure may initiate faint, dizzy sensations.

    • 5

      Keep an eye on the patient. Low blood pressure, an increased heart rate and difficulty breathing eventually leads to extreme dizziness and confusion. In dire situations, the person may lose consciousness and may even slip into a coma.

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