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Dehydration

  • Key Points
  • Overview
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
  • Prevention
  • Next Steps

Key Points

  • You become dehydrated when your body loses more fluids than you drink.
  • Symptoms include thirst, dizziness, dark urine and dry mouth.
  • Causes include sweating, vomiting, diarrhea and not drinking enough water.
  • Severe dehydration can be dangerous and may need medical treatment.
  • Prevent dehydration by drinking enough water and eating hydrating foods.

Overview

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration occurs when the body doesn’t have enough fluids to function properly. It happens when you lose more water than you drink. Water is essential for your body to work well, helping with digestion, circulation and temperature control.

Everyone can become dehydrated, but it is more common in young children, older adults and people who exercise a lot. Recognizing the signs of dehydration early is important to avoid serious health problems.

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Causes

Causes of Dehydration

Dehydration can happen for many reasons, including:

  • Not drinking enough water: If you don’t drink enough fluids throughout the day, your body can become dehydrated.
  • Sweating too much: Hot weather, exercise or fever can cause excessive sweating, leading to fluid loss.
  • Vomiting or diarrhea: These can cause rapid fluid loss, especially in children and older adults.
  • Frequent urination: Some medications or medical conditions can cause increased urination, leading to dehydration.
  • Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol: These can make you urinate more, removing fluids from your body.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of Dehydration

  • Mild to moderate dehydration symptoms:
  • Feeling thirsty
  • Dry mouth and lips
  • Dark yellow urine or urinating less often
  • Feeling tired or dizzy
  • Headache

Severe dehydration symptoms:

  • Extreme thirst
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Confusion or dizziness
  • Little to no urination
  • Sunken eyes
  • Fainting

If you notice severe dehydration symptoms, get medical help immediately.

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Treatment

What to Drink for Dehydration

If you are dehydrated, it’s important to replace lost fluids. The best drinks for dehydration include:

  • Water: The best and easiest way to rehydrate.
  • Electrolyte drinks: Drinks like sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions help replace lost minerals.
  • Coconut water: A natural way to hydrate and restore electrolytes.
  • Herbal teas: Caffeine-free teas can provide hydration with added benefits.
  • Milk: Contains essential nutrients and hydrates well.

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Prevention

How to Stay Hydrated

Preventing dehydration is simple if you take the right steps:

  • Drink enough water: Aim for at least 8 cups of water daily. If you are active or sweating a lot, drink more.
  • Eat hydrating foods: Fruits like watermelon, oranges and cucumbers help keep you hydrated.
  • Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol: These drinks can make you lose fluids quickly.
  • Drink fluids when sick: If you have vomiting or diarrhea, drink small sips of water or oral rehydration solutions.
  • Monitor your urine color: Light yellow urine means you’re well-hydrated, while dark yellow or amber means you need more fluids.

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Next Steps

When to See a Health Care Provider

See a doctor if you experience:

  • Severe dehydration symptoms (confusion, fainting or rapid heartbeat)
  • Persistent vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours
  • Inability to keep fluids down
  • No urination for over 8 hours

Dehydration is a common but serious condition that can affect anyone. Drinking plenty of water, eating hydrating foods, and recognizing the early signs of dehydration can help you stay healthy. If you ever feel extremely thirsty, weak, or dizzy, rehydrate immediately and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.

At Riverside Health, we're dedicated to compassionate, collaborative care. We provide a wide range of services, from childbirth to end-of-life care, delivering over 2 million services each year. Our integrated network allows us to support you seamlessly through health, illness, recovery, and wellness. With top clinicians and advanced technology, we’re here for you at convenient locations close to home and work. Visit riversideonline.com.

If you’re wondering where the best place is to get care, please see our guide below:

If your problem is life- or limb-threatening, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Primary Care – Schedule through MyChart or call your provider’s office who you go to for most health care needs.

Virtual Clinic – Schedule through MyChart or click Here to learn more about Primary Care On Demand.

MD Express Urgent Care – Click Here to find a location near you for after-hours care or when your primary care provider is not available. Open 9am-9pm, Mon-Sun.

If you’re not sure, call Riverside Nurse 24/7 at 1-800-675-6368

 

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