Your body needs sufficient levels of water and fluid to support the normal, healthy functions of your cells, tissues and organs. When your body's fluid levels dip below normal, you can develop a medical condition called dehydration. You may be at risk of dehydration if you are overexposed to hot temperatures or undergo prolonged periods of fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Left untreated, the main symptoms of dehydration can be life-threatening.
Dizziness
Dehydration can cause symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness to occur in some people. Such symptoms can cause you to become unstable when you stand or attempt to walk. You can also experience a headache due to low levels of fluid within your body. Children who develop dehydration may experience a high fever in conjunction with symptoms of lightheadedness, dizziness or headache.
Thirst
If you are dehydrated, your body does not have enough fluid within it to support normal function. To encourage rehydration, your body will cause you to experience feelings of thirst, which can be accompanied by a dry mouth or throat. If this occurs, it is important that you replenish your body's fluid stores to prevent further medical complications related to dehydration.
Decreased Urination
When you are dehydrated, your body will conserve fluid by decreasing the amount of urine you excrete. You may notice a decrease in your urinary frequency or volume due to dehydration. Urine excreted during episodes of dehydration is very concentrated and tends to be dark yellow or amber in color, explains MedlinePlus, an online medical resource provided as a service of the National Institutes of Health.
Fatigue
If the cells and tissues of your body do not have enough fluid due to dehydration, they cannot provide you with the energy you need to perform your daily tasks. This can cause you to experience abnormal fatigue or tiredness as a symptom of dehydration. In cases of severe or prolonged dehydration, certain patients may faint or lose consciousness.
Confusion
Nerve signaling throughout your body requires adequate fluid levels to ensure that messages are sent and received in an efficient and accurate manner. Dehydration can interfere with nerve signaling and can cause you to feel abnormally confused, irritable or delirious. Such symptoms can also occur in conjunction with dizziness or fatigue.
Increased Heart Rate or Breathing
Dehydration can cause certain people to experience elevations in heart rate or breathing rate, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. These symptoms can also contribute to sensations of dizziness or fatigue in some patients.
