We learned about the indispensable needs of human beings such as eating, drinking, sheltering and excretion in primary school. Undoubtedly, the most important need among these is drinking, because a large part of our body consists of water. On the one hand, we have to drink a certain amount of water during the day because we are constantly losing fluid. If we cannot achieve this balance, we may face a condition called dehydration.
Dehydration, in its simplest definition, is a state in which the body takes in less water than it loses. Of course, this is more than just not drinking enough water during the day, because it happens when you’re dehydrated for a long time, and unfortunately the consequences can be truly deadly. Let’s take a closer look at the questions that are curious about the subject, such as what is dehydration, what causes it, what are the symptoms.
Let’s start with a basic definition; What is dehydration?
When we do not take as much fluid as our body needs or lose more water than we take in during the day, the state of not having enough fluid to perform vital functions is called dehydration. Roughly, dehydration is the state of being abnormally dehydrated.
So, what exactly does dehydration mean?
Approximately 65 percent of our body consists of water and we lose 1.5 to 3 liters of water during the day. We have to replace this lost water through sweat, urine, etc., by drinking water as well as different fluids. When we do not replace the lost water or drink as much water as we need, a condition called dehydration occurs.
But how does dehydration occur?
When you feel very thirsty on an ordinary day, you feel it most in your mouth and throat. However, in an extreme situation such as dehydration, even your vital organs such as your brain, heart and kidneys cannot find enough fluid to function. Unfortunately, this can even have fatal consequences.
Know yourself well; What are the symptoms of dehydration?
- Intense feeling of thirst
- dry mouth
- increase in heart rate
- Weakness
- decrease in urine
- Abnormalities in the skin
- decrease in tears
- muscle cramps
- Fainting
Intense thirst:
There is an area in our brain called the hypothalamus. This region houses the hunger and thirst centers. When our fluid balance is disturbed, this area is stimulated and we become hungry or thirsty. There is also a center in the region that balances the body temperature. In cases such as dehydration, the feeling of thirst radiating from the hypothalamus region is felt at the highest level.
Dryness in the mouth:
Of course, one of the most important symptoms of dehydration is dry mouth. Because the salivary glands, which keep our mouths constantly wet and sticky, produce saliva thanks to water. As we become dehydrated, our saliva does not keep our mouth wet as before, and we feel an uncomfortable dry mouth. Particular attention should be paid to dry mouth in infants.
Increase in heart rate:
As our body loses fluid, its temperature also increases. To balance the heat, our heart beats much more than normal and an increase in heart rate called tachycardia occurs. In other words, one of the most important signs of dehydration is an increase in heart rate, but interestingly, it has been observed that the pulse has come to a standstill in cases of severe dehydration.
Weakness:
Excessive sweating and high fever, which cause dehydration, also cause a decrease in blood volume in our body. When blood volume decreases, the blood flow to our tissues and cells decreases. As a result of this, the person starts to feel very tired.
Decrease in urine:
The organ that maintains the fluid-electrolyte balance in our body is the kidney. In case of dehydration, the kidneys cannot excrete the excess because there is no fluid in the body, that is, urine does not form. Dark or very dark urine is also a sign of dehydration. Even in mild cases of dehydration, a decrease or darkening of urine is observed.
Abnormalities in the skin:
Our skin health is directly proportional to the fluid in our body. In case of dehydration, skin elasticity is lost when the fluid in the blood decreases. If the skin does not recover immediately when you pull it off, it means its flexibility has decreased. Decreased skin elasticity is also an important sign of dehydration.
Decrease in tears:
Although tears contain many different components, they are basically water. The lacrimal glands produce and secrete tears using water. In the case of dehydration, tears are greatly reduced and even in severe cases, not a single drop is found.
Muscle cramps:
All tensions and relaxations in our muscles occur thanks to electrolytes. In the case of dehydration, where the fluid balance in the body is lost, cramps are often experienced because the fluid-electrolyte balance is also disrupted. For this reason, it is recommended that athletes drink plenty of water.
Fainting:
There is no fluid in the brain, the kidneys are dehydrated, the heart is constantly pumping blood, the muscles are cramping; Of course, our body will eventually react to this unnatural process and will pass out by shutting down the system. Fainting is common in cases of moderate to severe dehydration. Of course, after fainting, things can get worse.
OK, but what causes dehydration?
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- High fever
- excessive sweating
- excessive urination
- Not enought feeding
- Different diseases and drugs
Diarrhea and vomiting:
Diarrhea and vomiting is a natural response of our body to infection, poisoning and similar situations. During this reaction, an abnormal level of fluid is excreted from our body. If we lose so much fluid and do not replace it, the result will of course be dehydration.
High fever:
High fever is both a cause and a consequence of dehydration. As our temperature rises, the heart beats more to balance the temperature and the blood volume is regulated accordingly. So the machine works using liquid. If we do not replenish the liquid used, that is, if we do not drink water, dehydration will occur.
Excessive sweating:
Our body loses fluid most and most often through sweat. Our sweating level may be abnormal, especially during work or exercise that requires intense effort. Dehydration occurs when the lost fluid is not replaced. Therefore, the more you sweat, the more water you should drink.
Excessive urination:
Our kidneys take in, process and remove excess fluid for many different functions. In other words, it provides fluid balance in a way. However, due to different diseases or the use of different drugs, excessive urination may occur by excreting the fluid before it is fully processed. Failure to replace the lost fluid also results in dehydration.
Not enought feeding:
The main reason for dehydration is not drinking enough water during the day, but even if we are not aware of it, we actually get a certain amount of fluid from the food we consume. Dehydration is inevitable if we do not drink enough water during the day and if we eat foods that are not rich in fluids. It should not be forgotten that some foods even enslave our existing liquid.
Different diseases and drugs:
Even if we drink enough water during the day and do not expel too much, some diseases and medications can also cause dehydration. Diseases such as heart failure, liver failure, kidney failure and the drugs used due to them can disrupt the fluid balance of our body and cause dehydration.
We answered questions such as what is dehydration, which is a state of dehydration that negatively affects the vital functions of our body, what causes it, what are the symptoms. What we describe is for informational purposes only. Do not forget that you should get the most accurate and specific information about dehydration from a specialist physician, as in all health issues.
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