What Happens If You Don't Drink Water Like You're Supposed To?

The Necessity of Drinking Water

The human body is between 50 and 65 percent water. As a result, if a person doesn't take in as much fluid as her body regularly loses, her body will not have enough fluid in it to regulate its many different functions. Some causes of dehydration include: insufficient intake of water in the heat or during exercise, excessive sweating and illnesses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. Know some symptoms and severe complications associated with dehydration so that you know when to take proactive steps to combat it.

Mild to Moderate Dehydration

A person may not notice if she is mildly dehydrated, but one tell-tale sign that she is not getting enough fluids is if her urine is dark yellow or amber in color. Other symptoms associated with mild to moderate dehydration include headache, lightheadedness or dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness and an overall "dry" feeling. This dryness includes symptoms such as dry and sticky mouth, thirst, few or lack of tears when crying and little to no urination (typically, less than every eight hours for a teen or adult).

Severe Dehydration

Severe dehydration is considered to be a medical emergency. "Dry" symptoms in this situation are more extreme than symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration. Such symptoms of severe dehydration include severe thirst, lack of perspiration, little to no urination, dry mouth and skin and lack of elasticity in the skin. Severely dehydrated infants may also have sunken fontanels (otherwise known as the "soft spots" on their heads). Additional symptoms include irritability, low blood pressure, fever, rapid heart beat and occasionally delirium or unconsciousness.

Associated Complications

If dehydration becomes severe and it goes untreated, a person is susceptible to developing one or many dangerous health complications. For example, a heat injury such as cramping, heatstroke or heat exhaustion, can result from inadequate intake of fluids. Cerebral edema (brain swelling) can also occur. This is because the body may accidentally over-hydrate as it tries to replenish its cells' store of sodium and fluid. Other associated complications include seizures, hypovolemic shock (when the blood pressure drops and not enough oxygen gets to the tissues), kidney failure, coma and death.

Getting Help

Mild to moderate dehydration can typically be remedied by increased water intake. However, severe dehydration may require immediate hospitalization. Try to prevent dehydration before it sets in. Drink plenty of water, eat fruits and vegetables and don't just wait until your body feels thirsty before you drink more fluids. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consume about 13 cups of total liquid per day and women drink about nine cups per day. More may be necessary for some, however. Be especially prudent in staying hydrated if you are ill, in a hot climate or exercising.