Signs & Symptoms of Dehydration in Adults

Dehydration is a loss of fluids from your body. It has many causes--heat, overexertion and excessive urination, to name a few. You can also become dehydrated by vomiting or suffering from diarrhea; indeed, dehydration is one of the more serious concerns for condition such as food poisoning, which involves a lot of vomiting or diarrhea. Specific symptoms can clue you in to dehydration in a given adult.

Dry Mouth

Mild dehydration can be spotted by a dry or sticky feeling in the mouth.

Lack of Energy

Dehydrated patients tend to feel more tired than usual and may be excessively sleepy.

Fluid Retention

People suffering from dehydration tend to urinate much less. When they do, the urine will be a darker shade of yellow than normal.

Headaches

Dehydration is sometimes accompanied by headaches or a sense of dizziness. If you're exercising and feel dizzy, take some water or Gatorade immediately.

Rapid Heartbeat

In cases of severe dehydration, your blood pressure may drop and your heart rate will increase a great deal. In such cases, you should seek medical help immediately.