You may be drinking little water: 7 “unexpected” signs of dehydration

Aattention to temperature rise! The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) speaks in a possible “heat wave”. This week, thermometers can be around 40°C, in some regions, it is therefore important to remain hydrated.

According to doctors at Very Well Health, most people can recognize the most direct signs of dehydration, such as thirst and yellowish urine. But, there are other signs “unexpected that go unnoticed”, but can lead to greater discomfort. Know what these experts refer to.

Lack of focus

“ If you have difficulty concentrating, this can be an early sign of dehydration ", they point out.

Extreme tiredness

“ Dehydration may cause signs of fatigue, as when you consume less fluid, your blood volume also decreases. This also hinders the health of the heart, and it starts pumping less blood, oxygen and nutrients through the body, which can cause this tiredness”.

Headache

“ Dehydrated can cause mild to intense headaches, since when you do not consume enough fluid, the volume of brain tissue actually decreases. This can lead to dural venous stretching, stretching of the skull tissues and veins as the brain shrinks. Drinking water can therefore increase the volume of your brain and relieve this pressure”.

Common dizziness

“ Being dehydrated may make you feel dizzy, as when you are dehydrated, the blood volume decreases. Less blood running around the body makes your blood pressure go up. The feeling of dizziness is a clear symptom of it.”.

Accelerated heart rate

“ An accelerated heartbeat is another unexpected sign of dehydration. When the blood volume is low due to insufficient fluid intake, the heart needs to start beating faster to pump the smallest volume of blood into the body.”.

Accelerated breathing

“ When you're dehydrated, you can start breathing faster. This increase in respiratory rate occurs for the same reason that heart rate increases. When the blood volume is smaller, there is less blood to provide oxygen throughout the body and naturally begins to breathe faster to compensate”.

Muscle cramps

“ This is another sign of dehydration that may go unnoticed. Dehydration can cause this muscle problem by interrupting electrical signals traveling through the nerves and tissues of the muscles. In addition, the muscles are more susceptible to electrical stimulation in this state”.