Excessive thirst and a dry, sticky mouth – when you feel this, it's clear that you're dehydrated. But did you know that there are so many other signs and symptoms of dehydration that many people are unaware of?
Headache
Did you know that approximately 75 percent of your brain is water?
And that's why not properly hydrating your body can give you a terrible headache.
When your brain shrinks as a result of dehydration, your head hurts – taking painkillers won't help, writes Healthy Builderz.
Instead, what you should do is drink plenty of water to keep your brain well hydrated and prevent headaches related to dehydration.
Poor concentration
It's not just a bad headache that can happen if your brain shrinks because you keep forgetting to drink water, experts say.
A dehydrated brain can make it difficult for you to focus properly. This is a real hindrance, especially if you're in an office or classroom.
Severe dehydration can even lead to confusion and delirium. Health officials say seizures are also possible.
Loss of muscle mass
If you enjoy fitness, make sure you drink about two liters of water a day – more if you exercise a lot and sweat a lot each time.
Like your brain, a large portion of your muscles is actually water. In fact, experts say that almost 80 percent of your muscles are made up of water.
So, to keep your muscle mass intact, make sure you drink enough water.
Muscle spasms
It's not uncommon for your muscles to cramp up more, especially when you're in the middle of a workout, especially a workout that lasts a few minutes.
Vigorous exercise for long periods of time can cause your body to lose water, which is something that contains electrolytes that your muscles need to contract and relax properly.
As electrolyte levels drop, your muscles are less likely to contract uncontrollably or remain in a semi-contraction, which is essentially a muscle spasm.
Lack of energy
You may not be able to complete your exercise regimen or daily physical activity if you are dehydrated. This is because not drinking enough water can rob you of much-needed energy.
To maintain optimal blood pressure, it is very important to drink water. Otherwise, it will drop, and a number of things can result from this, one of which is a feeling of weakness.
When your blood pressure is lower than normal, your circulation is compromised. This can prevent your muscles from getting much-needed oxygen.
Lack of sweating
Because of sweating, your clothes may be damp and your body may smell. However, this is actually a good thing because it allows your body temperature to remain normal.
If you don't drink enough water, your body may not be able to produce sweat whenever you need to, such as when performing strenuous physical activities.
Not sweating can be quite dangerous as it can cause your body to overheat, putting you at risk of heat stroke, which is a very serious issue.
Decreased urination
Not drinking enough water can prevent you from having the urge to urinate because your kidneys are not producing urine.
Reducing urine output is dangerous, experts say. For example, it can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the formation of urinary stones.
Not urinating enough can also lead to a buildup of toxins and waste products in your bloodstream – the idea of having too much waste in your blood certainly doesn’t sound good!
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