Categories: Dehydration

Dehydration Symptoms

Adapted from “The Water Prescription
by Christopher Vasey, N.D. (Inner Traditions 2006)

Most people don’t think they need to worry about dehydration. To them, dehydration is something that happens to travelers in the desert when they run out of water. But there is a chronic form of dehydration that does not have the sudden and intense nature of the acute form. Chronic dehydration is widespread in the present day and affects everyone who is not drinking enough liquid.

This list of 13 symptoms will inspire you to go get a glass of water, and then another, and another…

After each symptom we will show how lack of fluid affects the issue.

1. Fatigue, Energy Loss: Dehydration of the tissues causes enzymatic activity to slow down.

2. Constipation: When chewed food enters the colon, it contains too much liquid to allow stools to form properly, and the wall of the colon reduces it. In chronic dehydration, the colon takes too much water to give to other parts of the body.

3. Digestive Disorders: In chronic dehydration, the secretion of digestive juices are less.

4. High and Low Blood Pressure: The body’s blood volume is not enough to completely fill the entire set of arteries, veins, and capillaries.

5. Gastritis, Stomach Ulcers: To protect its mucous membranes from being destroyed by the acidic digestive fluid it produces, the stomach secretes a layer of mucus.

6. Respiratory Troubles: The mucous membranes of the respiratory region are slightly moist to protect the respiratory tract from substances that might be present in inhaled air.

7. Acid-Alkaline Imbalance: Dehydration activates an enzymatic slowdown producing acidification.

8. Excess Weight and Obesity: We may overeat because we crave foods rich in water. Thirst is often confused with hunger.

9. Eczema: Your body needs enough moisture to sweat 20 to 24 ounces of water, the amount necessary to dilute toxins so they do not irritate the skin.

10. Cholesterol: When dehydration causes too much liquid to be removed from inside the cells, the body tries to stop this loss by producing more cholesterol.

11. Cystitis, Urinary Infections: If toxins contained in urine are insufficiently diluted, they attack the urinary mucous membranes.

12. Rheumatism: Dehydration abnormally increases the concentration of toxins in the blood and cellular fluids, and the pains increase in proportion to the concentration of the toxins.

13. Premature Aging: The body of a newborn child is composed of 80 percent liquid, but this percentage declines to no more than 70 percent in an adult and continues to decline with age.

Symptoms of Chronic Dehydration

Most people don’t think they need to worry about dehydration. To them, dehydration is something that happens to travelers in the desert when they run out of water. But there is a chronic form of dehydration that does not have the sudden and intense nature of the acute form. Chronic dehydration is widespread in the present day and affects everyone who is not drinking enough liquid.

This list of symptoms will inspire you to go get a glass of water, and then another, and another…

After each symptom we will show how lack of fluid affects the issue.

  1. Fatigue, Energy Loss: Dehydration of the tissues causes enzymatic activity to slow down.
  2. Constipation: When chewed food enters the colon, it contains too much liquid to allow stools to form properly, and the wall of the colon reduces it. In chronic dehydration, the colon takes too much water to give to other parts of the body.
  3. Digestive Disorders: In chronic dehydration, the secretion of digestive juices are less.
  4. High and Low Blood Pressure: The body’s blood volume is not enough to completely fill the entire set of arteries, veins, and capillaries.
  5. Gastritis, Stomach Ulcers: To protect its mucous membranes from being destroyed by the acidic digestive fluid it produces, the stomach secretes a layer of mucus.
  6. Respiratory Troubles: The mucous membranes of the respiratory region are slightly moist to protect the respiratory tract from substances that might be present in inhaled air.
  7. Acid-Alkaline Imbalance: Dehydration activates an enzymatic slowdown producing acidification.

All forms of life on Earth are sustained by water. We humans are about 70% water by weight.

Water is involved in almost every process – from adjusting the body’s temperature to assisting in nutrient digestion. Water is the basis of all bodily fluids, it carries nutrients in and toxins out of the body.

The chemical reactions that support life take place in a water medium, with water being both an important reactant as well as a product of these reactions. It can be said that the chemistry of life is water chemistry. For the body to function properly, it must be hydrated properly. Moreover, the qualities and properties of the water we drink can determine the quality of our health.

Most of us are not drinking enough water in our daily life. We drink “liquids”, such as coffee, alcohols, teas, soft drinks, juices, milk – but that is not the same as drinking water. Some people have difficulty drinking even two pints of water each day. Once you start drinking at least 8 pints of good water daily, you will be able to rejuvenate most of your tissues. If you are interested in “youthing” instead of aging, you must supply your body with adequate water to carry out its functions.

Drink good fresh, clean water – not water that is contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, and devoid of important minerals. When you drink water that is Filtered, Re-mineralized and Structured, you will have begun the process of “youthing’.

What happens if you don’t drink enough water? Your body becomes DEHYDRATED!

Water plays a role in every process occurring in your body, right down to the cellular level. We can go without eating for a month or more and still survive, but death is almost certain within a matter of days without water. It is ironic that water deficiency is so common in North America, where potable water is plentiful.

Signs and symptoms of Dehydration have been adequately documented:

General Symptoms of Dehydration

  • Thirst
  • Dry Mouth
  • Dry Tongue
  • Fatigue
  • Dark Colored Urine
  • Infrequent Urination
  • Reduced Urine Output
  • Dry Skin
  • Loose Skin
  • Wrinkled Skin
  • Rapid Pulse
  • Rapid Breathing
  • Muscle Cramps
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Sunken Eyes
  • Light-headedness
  • Loss of Consciousness
  • Confusion
  • Constipation

Symptoms of Dehydration in Children and Infants

  • Dry Mouth & Tongue
  • No Tears When Crying
  • Dry Diaper for 3 or more Hours
  • Sunken Abdomen, Eyes, Cheeks
  • High Fever
  • Listlessness or Irritability
  • Cracked Lips/Mouth
  • Dark Rings Around Eyes
  • Sleepiness
  • Non-Responsive Skin – Skin that does not flatten when pinched or released

Complications of Dehydration

  • Loss of Consciousness
  • Electrolyte Imbalance
  • Salt Imbalance
  • Ultimately Death!
Author: Life Enthusiast Staff