5 Common Signs of Dehydration

Many people think dehydration is limited to desert movie scenes where the protagonist is crawling through sand and seeing false oases around every corner, but the crazy truth is that a significant portion of the population is dehydrated. So how do you know if you are one of the millions of dehydrated people in this world? Here are five common symptoms to watch for:

Extreme thirst—This one is pretty obvious. Your body knows what it needs and is trying to tell you. Water is critical for proper hydration, but sometimes water alone is not enough. If you can’t seem to quench your thirst no matter how much water you drink, it could be that you are short on electrolytes, which must be balanced with your water intake.
Headache—Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration. Make sure your water intake includes plenty of electrolytes.
Fatigue—Lots of things can make us tired, but dehydration may be the culprit if you usually get a good night’s sleep.
Lowered stamina and muscle weakness—If your workouts aren’t going as well as they used to or your muscles seem to have lost strength or stamina, dehydration may be partially to blame.
Less frequent urination and/or dark colored urine—Your kidneys are constantly filtering your blood and sending waste to your bladder. When you don’t drink enough water, you urinate less and your urine is darker. This handy chart can help you estimate whether you need to be drinking more (or less).