4 Dangers of Dehydration
Dehydration can come on quickly and become a serious issue faster than you may realize. Many of us don’t drink until we’re thirsty, but experts say that the body is already becoming dehydrated once you feel thirsty.
You should be drinking half your body weight (in ounces) each day, and start drinking water early in the day so you’re not drinking a lot before bedtime, which can cause you to wake up frequently throughout the night.
Even if you’re healthy, dehydration can cause problems, but if you already have certain medical conditions or chronic illnesses like diabetes, it can be even more dangerous. CHC has a look at four dangers of dehydration.
- Depression
You might not think that dehydration would affect you mentally, but the brain is made up of 85% water, which is more than any other organ in the body. When the brain doesn’t get enough water, it affects its energy supply, which can lead to fatigue and even symptoms of depression.
- Kidney Troubles
If not enough water is filtering through the kidneys, it can cause problems in how it functions as well as increase the likelihood of crystal formation. That can lead to an increase in kidney stones. Urine retention can also lead to kidney disease.
- High Blood Pressure
When the body’s cells lack water, the body sends a signal to the brain to produce a hormone that causes the blood vessels to constrict. This causes hypertension (high blood pressure) if it’s a chronic issue.
- Constipation
After food gets converted to waste in the small intestine, the body will extract water from that waste if it’s dehydrated. This causes the waste to harden, causing constipation.
