Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in and, as a result, your body doesn't have enough water to carry on its normal functions. To maintain good health, it is important to replenish lost fluids. Diarrhea, vomiting, fever, excessive sweating, and inadequate intake of water during hot weather or exercise are all common causes of dehydration in adults.
Changes in Urination
Changes in urination is one of the primary signs of dehydration. You may notice a decrease or difficulty in urination, or a change in urine color. Healthy urine has a faint yellowish color, similar to lemonade. If you are dehydrated, your urine will be a darker shade of yellow or amber.
Changes in Skin and Excretions
When dehydrated, you may experience dry mouth, also called cotton mouth, that results in extreme thirst. You may have a lack of sweat or only sweat minimally during vigorous exercise or in warm weather. It may be difficult for you to produce tears when crying. Most noticeable is the condition of your skin. Dehydration causes skin to appear dry and ashen. In some cases, the skin will lose elasticity (i.e., the skin doesn't bounce back to its original shape after being pinched or folded). In extreme cases, the skin will appear to be cracking or shriveling. You may also notice that your eyes appear sunken (i.e., dark skin or bags around the eyes that cause them to look less pronounced).
Changes in Alertness
When you are dehydrated, you may feel sleepy or tired most of the time. You may also notice that you are increasingly irritable or confused. In extreme cases, you may become unconscious or feel that you are in a state of delirium.
Changes in Vital Signs
A doctor can easily identify the symptoms of dehydration. Changes to your vital signs may be discovered during an initial examination. Low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness or a fever are all common symptoms of dehydration.
