Signs of Dehydration

Knowing the signs of dehydration is important when you have a disease like Pancreatitis.  Since one of the first things that we do with a flare up is stop taking food and water it’s important to know when you are dehydrated.

If you are trying to handle a flare up at home you need to know when you are dehydrates and could need some IV fluids that you can only get at your Doctors or the Hospital.

Common Signs of Dehydration

Fatigue

Whenever the body is severely dehydrated it slows the flow of blood and causes a drop in your blood pressure because of the lack of water.

Dehydration is when the body loses more water than it takes in.  This can result in the loss of muscle and nerve function.

If you have something like Pancreatitis, and are suffering from water loss (due to a combination of vomiting and/or diarrhea) you will often end up with a feeling of fatigue.

This is why your doctor will recommend plenty of rest along with plenty of fluids, like water, juice, and herbal teas to replenish lost water levels.

But if you are having a flare up and trying to wait out the storm – you will likely try to limit your intake of water.  If you are in the hospital they can do an IV to replace your fluids.

Urine Appears Dark Yellow

When your urine gets that dark yellow look and smell it’s often the first sign that you are dehydrated.

This happens because your kidneys are trying to store water instead of expelling it.  Colors will vary from person to person but whenever there is a darker than normal color in your urine it could mean that you are dehydrated.

But changes in your urine color can also be caused by medications, certain food, or side effects caused by other health conditions.

If your urine remains discolored after you get hydrated you should talk to your Doctor.  If you don’t urinate every 4 to 6 hours it can also be another of the signs of dehydration.

Still, darker urine is one of the most common signs of dehydration.

Lightheadedness and Heart Rate Increases

Another result of blood pressure drop because of dehydration is the feeling of lightheadedness or dizzyness that happens if you stand up quickly.

This dehydration condition is called orthostatic hypotension by medical professionals. It’s common for people to think that the lack of water is not dangerous but if you are severely dehydrated you could become confused and dizzy.

It also causes both rapid heart beat and breathing.  In the more severe states of dehydration you might feel like you feel faint and can’t catch your breath.  You might even become delirious and pass out.

Dehydration can lead to an increased heart rate, heart palpitations which are spasms of the actual heart muscle.

One way to check for dehydration is by checking your pulse or blood pressure.  The inadequate fluid in your blood causes both a drop in your blood pressure and increased pulse as the body tries to handle the dehydration.

Muscles Cramping

Proper hydration is vital for muscle contracting but when you are dehydrated it can also cause painful muscle spasms.

A muscle cramp or spasm is when a muscle is forcibly and can’t relax. Our muscles contract and relax when we are moving around but low fluid levels can lead to a muscle, or even a few fibers in the muscle, spasming involuntarily.

Severe dehydration  can turn muscle spasms into muscle cramps where a muscle contracts and hardens in that position for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

Common sites of muscle contraction due to dehydration are in the side in what is commonly called a abdominal stitch or in the calf muscle in our legs.

Constipation

Water is a necessary part of efficient digestion.  The fluids in your body help to smoothly move things along in your intestines.

Many of the pain meds that we take for Pancreatitis can cause constipation and dehydration can make it worse.

Water is important to keep the walls of your intestine smooth and flexible.  But if you are dehydrated the intestine becomes less flexible which can result in slower harder stools that are sometimes even painful to pass.

Even under the best circumstances Pancreatitis can cause constipation because of the damage that it causes to your Pancreas so it’s important to make sure that you are getting enough water to keep hydrated and avoid this problem.

Skin Loses Elasticity

Do you ever wonder what it is that your doctor is checking when he/she pinches your skin?

It’s to see how fast it returns to normal.  This quick pinch can indicate normal turgor when the pinched skin returns to normal quickly or decrease or compromised turgor caused by dehydration when the skin remains elevated and returns to normal more slowly.

Dehydration caused by lack of proper fluids or excessive loss through sweating makes your skin look older and also make it easier to cause sags.

Dry Eyes, Nose, Mouth Or Tongue

One sure sign of dehydration in an adult is if you stop producing tears or your eyes appear to be sunken.

You might also notice dry mucous membranes which means that your nose,mouth and tongue will become dry – even sticky.

You’re Thirsty

It’s important to listen to your body!

One of the big signs of dehydration is when you’re thirsty, when your mouth and throat become dry and your tongue starts to feel sticky or dry.

But you also shouldn’t leave drinking of fluids to when you feel thirsty because by then you man already be dehydrated,

Conclusion to Signs of Dehydration

Suffering from an illness like Pancreatitis can make proper dehydration problematic.  Even though you know you need to keep properly hydrated it can be hard when you are dealing with a flare up and fell nauseas or are vomiting.

When you are in pain you also might not want to drink for fear of causing more pain.

But it is important to watch for the signs of dehydration to make sure that you aren’t causing other problems.  Knowing what these signs of dehydration are can also help you to know when you need to head to your Doctors office or the hospital to get IV fluids.

Related articles across the web

• Dangers of Dehydration
• UK study of dehydration among elderly nursing home patients no surprise to fresh water advocate
• Hydration Nation: Why Hydration is Important for Everyone
• Why Dehydration Is Bad for Your Body