Dehydration can cause fatigue as every cell in the body needs water to function properly. When fluids aren’t consumed, the body has to work harder, leading to tiredness. Thirst isn’t an early sign of dehydration, and it’s important to drink more water and eat hydrating foods to combat it. Dehydration and fatigue can also be symptoms of certain conditions or disorders.
The primary connection between dehydration and fatigue is that fatigue is one of the symptoms of severe dehydration. Sometimes even mild to moderate dehydration can lead to sluggishness and discomfort, as every cell in the human body is made up mostly of water and needs to be replenished with fluids on a regular basis to function properly. When insufficient fluids are consumed, the body has to work very hard to keep functioning and fatigue is often the result.
One reason dehydration and fatigue are linked is because when not enough fluids are consumed, the blood becomes slightly thicker. This means that the heart has to pump harder to move it through the veins, requiring more energy. When more energy is used, it can lead to tiredness and sluggishness. This often occurs more in cases of severe dehydration, although many people don’t realize they’ve reached this point until even more serious side effects occur.
Though most don’t realize it, thirst isn’t an early sign of dehydration. When the body signals that it feels thirsty, it means that dehydration has already occurred and fluids are needed immediately. By this time, fatigue and other symptoms may have already occurred as well. Unfortunately, many people live in a nearly constant state of dehydration to some extent and may not realize that they aren’t as alert or focused as they might be if they consumed more water.
The best way to combat dehydration and resulting fatigue is to drink more water and eat more foods that contain water. If the taste of the water is unpleasant, low-sugar teas or fresh juices are also hydrating, although juices can cause weight gain if consumed regularly. There is also water found in many common fruits and vegetables, such as melons, celery, cucumber, tomatoes and carrots. It is important to avoid fruit juices with added sugar, sodas, coffee and tea with too much added sugar when dehydrated.
Dehydration and fatigue can also be symptoms of certain conditions or disorders. The flu and some stomach bacteria can cause fatigue and result in diarrhea or vomiting, both common causes of dehydration. This is a temporary condition and both symptoms should go away once the virus has run its course. It’s important to consume extra fluids during this time to prevent severe dehydration and fatigue, which is especially dangerous in young children and the elderly.
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