4 Signs You’re Chronically Dehydrated

Your body needs water for every single one of its functions. However, things like sweating and urinating rid your body of precious fluids and electrolytes. However, you can start the journey to dehydration if you aren’t constantly replenishing your body’s water stores. 

When you get thirsty, your body is telling you that you’re already dehydrated, which means you’re running low on fluids and losing more than you’re putting in. You can experience acute dehydration when you develop a stomach virus, exercise vigorously, or stay in the heat too long. Resting and upping your fluid intake is enough to remedy acute dehydration quickly.

However, chronic dehydration goes beyond simply losing more fluids than you’re taking in. It happens when you’ve forced your body to run on too few fluids for too long, and your body can’t function like it should.

Chronic dehydration can severely impact your health, putting you at risk of developing kidney stones or high blood pressure. Because of that, our primary care team at San Feliz Urgent Care in Glendale, California, provides you with some warning signs of dehydration, so you can begin healing your body.

1. Your muscles are tired and weak

Your muscles need water with electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium for optimal functionality. If you deprive your muscles of fluids and electrolytes for too long, they can start to shut down and quickly become sore, stiff, and tired. Chronic dehydration may also cause your muscles to cramp and twitch. 

2. Your head always hurts

Getting a headache on occasion isn’t typically a cause for concern. However, if you deal with chronic headaches, it could mean you’re dehydrated. Characteristics of dehydration headaches include pain limited to just your head and pain that diminishes with increased water intake. Your headaches may also be accompanied by dizziness or extreme thirst. 

3. Your skin is dry

If your body isn’t getting enough water, it makes sense that your skin will start to dry out. However, dehydrated skin is different from skin that’s dry due to a condition like eczema or overwashing. 

When your skin is dry from dehydration, you may notice that your complexion is dull, your skin loses elasticity, and you have patches of rough and scaly skin. In addition, you might also notice that your lips and mouth are very dry.

4. You’re constantly fatigued

As stated above, your body requires water for every function. So, if you don’t have enough, your body starts to shut down to conserve energy and save the fluids it does have. As a result, you can feel sluggish, tired, and run down — even with plenty of sleep. 

How we can help with chronic dehydration

To prevent chronic dehydration, you need to make sure you’re always drinking enough fluids and upping your intake whenever you stay out in the heat for too long or do a hard workout. If you recognize signs of chronic dehydration, we highly encourage you to increase your fluid intake each day and supplement with our IV hydration services. 

IV hydration can quickly and efficiently get your fluid and electrolyte levels back to where they need to be and help your body bounce back from being dehydrated for too long. 

To book an IV hydration therapy session, simply call our office or use our online scheduling tool today.