Can you still be dehydrated after drinking lots of water

Can you still be dehydrated after drinking lots of water

It is normal to feel thirsty at various points throughout the day, especially after eating salty foods and after exercise.

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It is normal to feel thirsty at various points throughout the day, especially after eating salty foods and after exercise. But, if you are drinking plenty of water but still experiencing dehydration symptoms, something could be wrong.

See your doctor for a work up if you feel thirsty despite regularly drinking water. Some diseases that cause dehydration can be serious.

Examine Your Diet

Eating a salty or spicy meal may cause a strong, but temporary, urge to drink, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Your kidneys regulate body fluid volume. Eating salty food increases sodium concentrations in your blood relative to water.

Water found in and around your cells moves into your bloodstream to restore the sodium/water balance, according to a December 2016 article published by Current Biology. Your kidneys remove the excess sodium and water by excreting them in urine.

This process triggers a chemical reaction to prevent dehydration by inducing thirst to replenish lost water. Because they slightly increase your body temperature, metabolism of spicy foods requires extra water, which is why spicy foods make you thirsty.

Identify Dehydration Symptoms

You may become dehydrated due to exercise, a fever, having diarrhea, drinking alcohol or taking certain medications. Symptoms of dehydration can include decreased urination, a dry mouth, fatigue, headache, confusion and dizziness, according to the Mayo Clinic.

As dehydration progresses, you may have very dry mucous membranes, no urination at all, a lack of perspiration and rapid heartbeat.

Severe cases of dehydration can cause shock, seizures, kidney failure, unconsciousness and death. Usually, drinking enough fluids is enough to prevent dehydration, but if you are ill or exercising strenuously in hot weather, you can still experience dehydration.

Constantly Dehydrated: Diagnosis Diabetes

If you feel constantly dehydrated, a diagnosis of diabetes might be in order. One of the first symptoms of diabetes is often excessive thirst along with producing large amounts of urine.

Other symptoms of diabetes include excessive hunger, fatigue, weight loss and vision changes. Sometimes these symptoms may come on very suddenly and with no warning, according to the World Health Organization.

Left unchecked, diabetes can cause damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys and other body organs. Depending on the type of diabetes, your doctor might prescribe injected or oral medications along with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and losing weight.

Beware of Other Medical Conditions

There are several diseases that cause dehydration or excessive thirst. Heart failure prevents maintenance of adequate blood flow. The reduction in blood volume induces thirst. Kidney failure causes extreme thirst, because the kidneys can no longer maintain body fluid balance, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Liver problems may cause blood vessels in the esophagus to become enlarged and bleed. The decrease in blood volume caused by bleeding, triggers extreme thirst due to body fluid imbalance.

Polydipsia, a mental condition that causes extreme thirst, has many causes, including stress and anxiety, as discussed in a November 2017 article published by Swiss Medical Weekly.

If you are thirsty for no apparent reason, speak with your doctor to rule out a medical or emotional problem.

We all know by now that there are a few key elements to living a healthy lifestyle, like eating a balanced diet, exercising, getting enough sleep, and of course, drinking water. But have you ever felt like you were still dehydrated no matter how much water you guzzled throughout the day? Maybe your lips feel chapped or your mouth is dry or your skin doesn’t feel as supple. It’s not all in your head; there’s a scientific reason why water sometimes feels less hydrating.

Can you still be dehydrated after drinking lots of water

Remineralizing is also important.

Dana Cohen, MD, who focuses on integrative medicine, recently made an interesting point on the mindbodygreen podcast. She said that often when people drink a ton of water, they don’t think about a process she calls “remineralizing.” Many people chug water throughout the day to stay hydrated, which isn’t necessarily a problem. However, some folks also use specialized water filters that strain out harsh toxins and chemicals. These filters also take out beneficial nutrients, like any underlying sodium, which may already be sparse in regular tap water.

Sodium is key to rehydrating your body.

When you don’t have enough sodium in your body in proportion to the amount of water you consume, your body’s sodium receptors aren’t able to pull those water molecules into cells to help them function. And if you have too much water circulating through your body, you might be dealing with something called water intoxication, which can make you feel groggy, nauseous, and sometimes even dehydrated. That’s why it’s important to replace the sodium that you’re flushing away with all of the water you’re drinking.

Of course, not getting enough sodium in our foods and beverages isn’t a common problem. Most of us consume too much sodium in a day. But for those of us who exercise often and rehydrate with plain water, paying attention to electrolytes is also important.

How can you fix it?

When it comes to remineralizing your water, you don’t need to take action with every glass you drink. But you can make one small tweak a few times per day, especially if you’re drinking a lot of water in between meals. The next time you pour yourself a glass, Cohen recommends adding a pinch of salt or a packet of electrolytes (Buy on Amazon, $19.99). It’s a tiny change, but it can make a huge difference!

Can you be dehydrated even though you drink a lot of water?

You might have an electrolyte imbalance: Electrolyte imbalances are one of the most common reasons you might feel dehydrated even after drinking tons of water: “Sometimes if we drink a lot of water but we don't take in enough fruits and vegetables, our electrolytes—sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, etc.

What are the 5 signs of dehydration?

Symptoms of dehydration in adults and children include:.
feeling thirsty..
dark yellow and strong-smelling pee..
feeling dizzy or lightheaded..
feeling tired..
a dry mouth, lips and eyes..
peeing little, and fewer than 4 times a day..

Why am I still thirsty after drinking water all day?

Water straight from the tap has been stripped of its naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes. This imbalance in electrolytes can be a reason you are still feeling thirsty after drinking water. Staying properly hydrated is more than just drinking water. You should also be considering what's in your water.

How much water does it take to fix severe dehydration?

Commit yourself to drinking at least 10 glasses of water or other fluids. Soup and broth will do the trick too. Beware that coffee and alcoholic beverages don't count toward your daily water intake. These drinks actually make dehydration worse.