Causes of dehydration that you don't realize: menstruation until old age

Lack of body fluids or dehydration generally occurs when the body loses more water than we drink. Most of the body's water content is lost through the skin which is excreted in the form of sweat. There are many causes of dehydration - some of which you might not expect.

What are the symptoms of dehydration?

Mild dehydration is common, but it doesn't always cause significant symptoms. Symptoms of serious dehydration only appear when most of the body's cells have started to lack water levels and are irreplaceable after some time or what is known as moderate dehydration. Some of the symptoms that can arise due to mild to moderate dehydration include:

• Sleepy
• Dry mouth
• Thirst
• Little urine flow
• Tears a little
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Dizziness or headache

Meanwhile, symptoms of moderate to severe dehydration can cause symptoms such as:

• Feeling very, very thirsty
• Don't sweat it
• Hypotension
• The heart beats fast
• Breath too fast
• Fever
• Wrinkled skin
• Eyes appear sunken
• Dark urine

Although there are various symptoms, dehydration is often not realized because we consider drinking water to be sufficient. In fact, the cause of dehydration is not as simple as drinking less water

Various health conditions that cause dehydration

Dehydration generally occurs when working in a high temperature environment and exercising or experiencing health problems due to burns, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal infections as well as experiencing symptoms of vomiting and fever.

However, it turns out that there are several other conditions that cause dehydration that you may never have realized, including:

Diabetes

A person who has diabetes, especially if he is not aware of it, is more at risk of becoming dehydrated. The condition of diabetes causes dehydration because the body will always try to balance excess blood glucose levels by eliminating urine that is more frequent than normal.

Menstruation

The hormones estrogen and progesterone affect body fluid levels. When both of them experience changes, such as during menstruation, regular water consumption is necessary to keep the body hydrated. Moreover, if too much blood is removed, fluid loss can occur on a large scale.

Take certain drugs

Several types of drugs have side effects by increasing the frequency of urination, one of which is a diuretic drug that is consumed by people with hypertension. Other drugs that cause diarrhea and vomiting due to nausea also have the potential to expel excess body fluids.

Drink alcohol

One of the effects of drinking alcohol is to prevent the antidiuretic hormone from absorbing the fluids that have been consumed. Alcohol also has a diuretic effect that makes it easier for fluids to enter the bladder to pass. Both processes can significantly reduce body fluid levels. Moreover, alcohol can cause a person to consume less water due to decreased ability to feel thirsty and feeling tired.

Stress

The body can lose its ability to control fluids and electrolytes due to decreased levels of the hormone aldosterone which is triggered by adrenal hormones and stressful conditions. When experiencing chronic stress drinking water may temporarily relieve dehydration but controlling it with stress can help regulate fluid and electrolyte functions.

Low carbohydrate diet

Carbohydrates are a type of nutrient that is stored along with water, which is why you can significantly lose weight after a carbohydrate diet. However, reducing the portion of carbohydrates means that body fluid levels can also decrease.

Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)

Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disease that causes diarrhea and nausea. What's more, foods that trigger IBS are types of foods that contain lots of water. Reducing the consumption of foods that are thought to be triggers for IBS can result in your body getting less fluid.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The condition of pregnancy makes a person need more fluids than usual, especially if fluids during pregnancy are wasted through morning sickness. In addition, during the breastfeeding process, the body's water content also tends to decrease along with electrolytes, protein and other nutrients.

Lives in the highlands

When you go to a cooler plateau, the body adapts by increasing the frequency of breathing and urine output. Both processes are needed to balance oxygen levels so that more fluid is excreted through breathing moisture and urination.

Elderly

Old age makes a person more susceptible to dehydration due to a decreased ability to feel thirsty or hungry. Older people also have more difficulty experiencing dehydration symptoms and are more likely to forget or not realize that they haven't consumed drinking water in a single day.