Learn more about how’s and the why’s of dehydration, and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you.
What Is Dehydration?
Dehydration is when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. The human body loses a lot of fluid by carrying out normal body functions like sweating or urinating. Whatever fluid we lose, we replenish it by eating or drinking.
Mild cases of dehydration can usually be reversed by simply drinking more liquids. However, dehydration, if left untreated can become severe and may require medical attention.
What Causes Dehydration?
One common culprit of dehydration is simply not drinking enough water. Nothing beats an ice-cold soda on a hot summer day, but you would be better off drinking cold water to replenish the fluid balance in your body.
If you are a fan of coffee, you may want to limit how much coffee you drink especially if it is a particularly hot day or if you have been engaging in a lot of physical activity. Coffee is a diuretic, which means that it can cause you to pee more. Although the link between dehydration and coffee is still being debated, it is better to avoid this drink if you are trying to stay hydrated.
Other common causes of dehydration are the following:
- Vomiting or diarrhea. Diarrhea and vomiting can cause a person to suddenly lose an unhealthy amount of water and electrolytes. Experiencing both vomiting and diarrhea at the same time can make you dehydrated faster.
- Increased urination. Some conditions involving the kidneys can cause a person to urinate more often. Diabetes, which causes the kidneys to become overworked, can also cause increased urination that can lead to dehydration.
- Excessive sweating. If you are exercising without intaking any fluids, in a hot and humid environment then you will be more likely to get dehydrated.
- Fever. The body becomes more and more prone to dehydration if a fever is left untreated.
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