Saliva has antibacterial properties in it, but dehydration can prevent your body from making enough saliva.

If you’re not producing enough saliva in the mouth, you can get bacteria overgrowth and one of the side reactions of that is bad breath from

chronic dehydration

Dry skin. A lot of people think that people who get dehydrated are really sweaty; but as you go through various stages of dehydration, you become very

dizzy and you don’t have enough blood volume so you get very dry skin.Think you can’t get dehydrated in cooler seasons or climates? Think again.

Symptoms may be milder or come on slower, but it’s still possible to be dehydrated or suffer from heat illness in cooler weather.

Muscle cramps. The hotter you get, the more likely you are to get muscle cramps, and that’s from a pure heat effect on the muscles. As the muscles work

harder and harder, they can seize up from the heat itself. Changes in the electrolytes, changes in the sodium and potassium can lead to muscle

cramping as well.

Fever and chills. It might sound counterintuitive, but if your body is severely dehydrated you may experience symptoms like fever or even chills. Fever can be especially dangerous, so be sure to seek immediate medical help if your

fever rises over 101°F.

Food cravings, especially for sweets. When you’re dehydrated, it can be difficult for some nutrients and organs like the liver which use water to release

some glycogens and other components of your energy stores, so you can actually get cravings for food. While you can crave anything from chocolate to a salty snack, cravings for sweets are more common because your body may be

experiencing difficulty with glycogen production.Craving something sweet? Reach for a snack that has high water content. Most fruits and vegetables have high water content and will help you stay hydrated.

Headaches. The brain sits inside a fluid sack that keeps it from bumping against the skull, explains Higgins. If that fluid sack is depleted or running low because

of dehydration, the brain can push up against parts of the skull, causing headaches.

If you're a healthy adult, you can usually treat mild to moderate dehydration by

drinking more fluids, such as water or an energy drink.

Get immediate medical care if you develop severe signs and symptoms such as extreme

thirst, a lack of urination, shriveled skin, dizziness and confusion.

Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital

www.woodlandshospita.inwww.healthatwoodlands.com

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