Is your thirst a sign of dehydration?
Dehydration occurs when our bodies have insufficient levels of fluid or when the body loses more fluid than it absorbs.
Dr. Abduljabbar Al-Fetni, assistant consultant in family medicine, defines dehydration as the loss of body fluid.
We lose water through regular bodily functions such as sweating, urination and bowel movements. Yet extreme head conditions, intense exercise or ailments such as vomiting and diarrhea can strip the body of huge amounts of fluid and can have serious consequences.
“Such an acute loss [of fluids] can cause a decrease in blood flow to vital organs like the liver, kidney and heart and may lead to the failure of these organs,” says Dr. Al-Fetni.
The thirst mechanism
It can take hours before we recognize that we are thirsty. Thirst is the body’s way of telling you to drink water. The brain signals the body to increase water intake when we are not drinking enough and the body is becoming dry.
More reasons to feel thirsty
• We also get thirsty after eating spicy or salty food.
• Dry mouth caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy, anxiety, or as a side effect of medication, reduces the amount of saliva produced, thus increasing the sensation of thirst.
• Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes or an inherited blood disorder, or excess bleeding, can all cause thirst.
• Thirst is not confined to regular activity such as exercising or being out in the sun. Understand your thirst because any condition that leads to dehydration will also cause thirst.
Mild dehydration signs:
• Thirst
• Concentrated (dark-colored) urine
• Dry mouth
• Reduced appetite
• Decreased urination
• Cracked lips
• Dizziness
• Light headache
• Chills
Ongoing dehydration may result in:
Extreme thirst
Dry sticky mouth and mucous membrane
Dry eyes
Decreased sweating and urination
Irritability
Mood swings
Lack of energy or sleepiness
Fatigue
Constipation
Severe headaches
Nausea
Numbness
Cool hands and feet
Low blood pressure
Increased heart rate or body temperature
Symptoms of severe dehydration include:
Shriveled dry skin
Kidney stones
Muscle spasms and joint pain
Extreme fatigue
Sunken eyes
Respiratory depression
Confusion and disorientation
Rapid and weak heartbeat
Fainting
Blurred vision
Swollen tongue
Side effects of severe dehydration also include:
Cholesterol problems
Liver and muscle damage
Fever
Painful urination
Bloody stool
Lack of ability to keep fluids down
Severe diarrhea
In extreme cases, dehydration can be life-threatening
Diabetics tend to feel thirsty when experiencing high blood sugar levels (high levels of glucose in the bloodstream), thus becoming dehydrated from frequent urination.
Dehydration is linked to diabetes. “Kidneys excrete excess glucose in the blood through urine, which causes the sensation of thirst. People with type 1 diabetes might suffer severe complications if dehydrated,” he says.
How to avoid dehydration:
Dr. Alfetni advises rapidly replacing lost fluid by drinking plenty of fluids such as water, fresh juice and soup. “We should drink at least 2 liters of fluids per day. In cases such as vomiting and diarrhea, an oral or intravenous rehydration solution is advisable,” he said.
Rowaidah Idriss, a nutrition specialist, explains: “water and fluids are two different things. “The body needs water; nothing substitutes water,” she said. “Sugary sodas and caffeinated beverages should never be your main sources of fluid,” she added.
She clarified that milk is a food substance and must be treated as such. Yogurt is a helpful food choice when trying to overcome prolonged dehydration. “Fruit and vegetables such as watermelon, oranges, grapefruit, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers are full of water. We should beware that a lot of modern day foods are manufactured and processed with a minimal amount of liquid content,” said Dr. Idriss.
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