Page 30 - Seniors Today - August 21 Issue

stored glucose in the body. As a result, the 9. Nausea
body craves food, especially sweets.
3. Dry mouth
Reduced fluid in the body results in
reduced formation of saliva in the mouth,
causing dryness. People often describe it as
cotton in the mouth.
4. Halitosis (Bad breath)
Loss of fluid in the mouth causes saliva
to reduce, resulting in an increase in the
bacteria, hence the halitosis.
5. Fatigue (Tired or sleepy)
Most people complain of fatigue, tiredness
when they are dehydrated. This is due to
the drop in BP as well as loss of electrolytes.
6. Decreased urine output
Urine is low in volume and more yellowish
to amber in colour. This should tell you
that you could be dehydrated; the colour of
urine in a hydrated person is clear to light
yellow.
7. Headache
A headache is a common symptom of
dehydration, very similar to a migraine. It
occurs because the brain cells temporarily
shrink in response to fluid depletion. Also,
blood vessels dilate in an attempt to provide
enough fluid and oxygen to the brain.
8. Dry skin
The skin loses water due to heat as well
as cold. It can become rough and flaky,
shriveled, flushed, cold and clammy. The
elasticity is lost.
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Dehydration can cause nausea and
vomiting, which in turn increases the fluid
loss, forming a viscous cycle.
10. Muscle cramps
Extreme heat, while causing dehydration,
also causes the muscles to seize up,
resulting in painful cramps in the calves.
Loss of electrolytes can further worsen the
condition.
11. Dizziness
The brain is made up of 73% water;
reduction of fluid can, therefore affect the
brain, causing dizziness in patients. It can
also get compounded by low BP and the
reduction of blood flow to the brain due to
low volume of fluid.
12. Few or no tears
When you lose fluids, the body diverts the
balance fluid to organs which need it more.
This causes reduction in tears.
13. Constipation
Water is important to maintain a normal
bowel movement, to keep the waste moving
in the GIT. Dehydration will cause the
waste to back up, causing hard, lumpy
stools that are difficult to evacuate.
14. Impaired brain functions
Dehydration can cause a person to act
confused and disoriented, loss of memory
and coordination. It is known to affect
driving, like crossing lanes without
realizing or failing to brake in time.
Severe:
1. Decreased urine output
Severe dehydration results in severely
decreased or no urine output. The urine,
if any, produced is concentrated and dark
colored.
2. Hypotension
Blood has fluid as a major constituent…
fluid reduction can cause blood pressure
to drop, especially when the person tries to