Dehydration can be caused by a number of things - but ultimately it is the result of not drinking enough fluid or losing more fluid than you take in. Anything that makes you lose fluid can cause dehydration, like sweat, tears, vomiting, urine, or diarrhea. Your dehydration level can depend on your climate, diet, and level of physical activity.
Studies show that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. It can become a serious condition, even resulting in hospital admission in severe cases.
Not Drinking Enough Fluids: Failing to replace fluids lost daily.
Physical Activity: Exercise, especially in hot weather, can cause significant fluid loss.
Climate: Hot or humid environments increase sweating, leading to fluid loss.
Diet and Substance Intake
Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing increased urination. This often leads to dehydration, marked by hangover symptoms like headaches.
Medical Conditions and Illness
Vomiting and Diarrhea: Illnesses like gastroenteritis can cause rapid fluid loss through persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
High Fever: Fevers can lead to sweating, further depleting body fluids.
Diabetes: High glucose levels cause kidneys to produce more urine, increasing dehydration risk.
RISK FACTORS
Age-Related Risks
Older Adults: May not notice when they’re thirsty; difficulty moving can make it harder to get water.
Babies and Infants: Sensitive to small fluid losses; can’t express thirst or get their own drinks.
Health Conditions
Chronic Diseases: Conditions like diabetes increase urination; medications like diuretics (water pills) can also increase fluid loss.
Long-Term Illnesses: Illnesses like alcoholism can increase dehydration risk.
Physical Activity and Environment
Athletes: Lose a lot of water through sweat during prolonged exercise.
Outdoor Workers in Warm Weather: Those working outside, like construction workers, may sweat heavily without enough cooling, increasing fluid needs.
High-Altitude Areas: Lower oxygen levels and dry air increase breathing rate, causing more water loss.
Temporary Illness
Colds and Sore Throats: May cause a lack of appetite or desire to drink, reducing fluid intake.
SYMPTOMS
Mild Dehydration
Symptoms:
Thirsty feeling
Less frequent urination
Dry mouth
Decreased sweating
Treatment:
Can be managed at home by drinking:
Water
Electrolyte drinks
Oral rehydration solutions (available at drugstores)
Moderate Dehydration
Symptoms: Similar to mild, but more intense.
Treatment: Requires medical help; fluids given through an IV (intravenous).
Severe Dehydration
Symptoms:
Dizziness
Sunken eyes
Fainting
Rapid breathing
Racing heart
Treatment: Requires immediate medical attention; treated with IV fluids containing salt.
Early Warning Signs of Dehydration
Feeling thirsty and lightheaded
Dry mouth
Tiredness
Dark-colored, strong-smelling urine
Urinating less often than usual (less than three to four times a day)
Low blood volume shock (blood pressure and the amount of oxygen in your blood are too low)
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
You should see your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve even after drinking plenty of fluids. Your doctor might perform a blood test or urine test to check the balance of salts (like sodium and potassium) in your body.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Extreme thirst
Trouble keeping fluids down
Not urinating for eight hours
Unusual tiredness or confusion
Rapid heartbeat
Dizziness when standing up that doesn’t go away quickly
Diarrhea for 24 hours or more
Bloody or black stools
DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Blood tests to check kidney function
Urine tests to see what may be causing dehydration
Other tests to see what may be causing dehydration (blood sugar test for diabetes)
TREATMENT
Try sipping water or sucking on ice cubes.
Try drinking water or sports drinks that contain electrolytes.
Do not take salt tablets. They can cause serious complications.
Ask your provider what you should eat if you have diarrhea.
For more severe dehydration or heat emergencies, you may need to stay in a hospital and receive fluid through a vein (IV). The provider will also treat the cause of the dehydration.
Here’s how you can help yourself stay hydrated by drinking as much water as your body needs:
Always take a water bottle wherever you go and refill it as needed. For cold refreshing drinks, keep freezer-safe water bottles in the freezer overnight and carry them during the day.
Drink water before each meal.
Add a slice of lime or lemon to flavor your water, making it more enjoyable to drink.
Reach for water instead of sugary, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks to quench your thirst.
If you tend to forget to drink enough water, setting reminders on your phone to take water can be helpful.
Listen to your body and drink water as soon as you feel thirsty.
Start a “drink water” challenge alone or with loved ones to motivate you to drink enough water.
Add more water-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and soups into your diet.
If dehydration is left untreated, it can become severe and potentially life-threatening. Severe dehydration requires immediate medical attention.
Contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing:
Feeling unusually tired or confused, and you think you may be dehydrated
Dizziness upon standing that doesn’t go away after a few seconds
Not passing urine for eight hours
A weak pulse
A rapid pulse
Seizures
A low level of consciousness
Untreated severe dehydration can lead to complications. This level of dehydration needs medical attention to restore the loss of fluids.
How common is dehydration?
Medical studies show approximately 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Dehydration also occurs in about 17% to 28% of older adults in the U.S.
What is the main cause of dehydration?
The main cause of dehydration is not drinking enough fluid or losing more fluid than you take in. This fluid could be lost in a number of ways, including sweat, tears, vomiting, diarrhea, or urine.
What does a dehydration headache feel like?
Dehydration headaches can range from a dull ache to an intense migraine anywhere on the head. Dehydration headaches are more common in some people than others. Dehydration can also cause dizziness.
How do you rehydrate a headache fast?
To treat a dehydration headache, you can:
Increase fluid intake by drinking water or other healthy fluids
Replace electrolytes with a sports drink or electrolyte powder
Reduce sweating by temporarily decreasing physical activity and avoiding heat
Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration
What part of your body hurts when you are dehydrated?
Dehydration can cause pain in your head, abdomen, muscles, and joints.
Abdominal cramps/pain and headaches are a result of dehydration, and it can worsen chronic joint and muscle pain. In addition, dehydration can slow your rate of healing and increase your chance of injury. Water also hydrates the discs between the vertebrae in your spine, so dehydration can result in your tendons, ligaments, and muscles becoming stiff.
What can be mistaken for dehydration?
The conditions that can be mistaken for dehydration include a concussion, menopause, and hypothyroidism, as their symptoms are similar. If your symptoms persist, talk to your doctor as your dehydration symptoms may be pointing to a different condition.
What does dehydration do to the female body?
Dehydration may affect the female body in a number of ways. This can include a low mood, decreased concentration, headaches, or dark or hollow eyes. Dehydration can also lead to muscle cramps, feeling faint, and more serious complications when left untreated like electrolyte imbalance and organ dysfunction.
Can dehydration impact your blood pressure?
Yes, it can. Dehydration can result in high blood pressure in some cases. Dehydration leads to your blood becoming thicker and more concentrated which causes blood pressure to increase due to your heart having to work harder to pump blood through your body.
Can dehydration cause low blood pressure and high heart rate?
It can! Dehydration can also cause low blood pressure because there is less blood circulating when the body is dehydrated.
This makes managing blood pressure overall more difficult. Additionally, dehydration can cause heart palpitations - a pounding, fluttering feeling of the heart. This is a result of your heart having to beat faster to continue delivering oxygen to your organs.
Can dehydration cause fever?
Dehydration does not typically cause a fever. Severe dehydration may lead to complications causing a fever-like feeling. However, a fever can lead to dehydration due to the increased amount of water your body uses when you have a raised temperature.
Can dehydration cause diarrhea?
No, it can’t, but diarrhea can cause dehydration. Severe diarrhea causes your body to lose fluids, so it is important to stay hydrated if you’re experiencing diarrhea.
Can dehydration cause chest pains?
Yes, dehydration can result in chest pains, especially if you have heart disease.
Since dehydration can cause your heart rate to increase, you may experience chest pains or a pounding feeling in the chest. Dehydration makes your heart work even harder. If you feel tightness in your chest or have difficulty breathing along with these chest pains, seek medical care immediately.
Can dehydration cause nausea?
Nausea is a common symptom of dehydration. Dehydration slows down your digestion which can cause you to feel sick.
Can dehydration make you tired?
Yes, dehydration can lead to feeling very tired. Fatigue is a common symptom of dehydration, along with headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling thirsty, dry mouth, delirium, and dark-colored urine.
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Medical Disclaimer: This page is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace evaluation or care from a licensed healthcare provider. Screening recommendations and results vary by individual. Viewing this page does not create a doctor-patient relationship.
