What is the short answer of dehydration?

Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions . If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.

How do you respond to dehydration?

The best way to treat dehydration is to rehydrate the body by drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, diluted squash or diluted fruit juice . A sweet drink can help to replace lost sugar, and a salty snack can help to replace lost salt.

Am I hydrating enough?

So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men . About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.

What drink will hydrate you the fastest?

What are the best drinks to hydrate? Water. No surprises here. ... Milk & milk alternatives. One scientific study . has suggested that milk is right up there with the most hydrating drinks. ... Fruit and herb-infused water. ... Fruit juice. ... Sports drinks. ... Coconut Water. ... Tea.

Can you be dehydrated and still pee clear?

The issue is that, whilst urine colour can definitely be somewhat indicative of hydration status, there's definitely not a simple and linear relationship between actual hydration status and the colour of your pee .

Do you pee more when dehydrated?

Given this known process, we scientifically have shown that, yes, the more fluid you take in and thus the more hydrated you are, the more you will urinate. If you are dehydrated, you urinate less frequently .”

What does bad dehydration feel like?

Dizziness or lightheadedness For example, if you are experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness or feel like you may pass out, this may mean you are severely dehydrated. What to do: Don't take symptoms like these lightly. Properly rehydrate by slowly drinking water or an electrolyte replacement beverage if available.

How long does it take to rehydrate your body from dehydration?

For mild issues, you can begin to rehydrate in a just few minutes . However, you will need to rest and continue to replace fluids for several hours before you begin to feel better. This process can take up to 36 hours- and possibly hospital treatment- to recover from more advanced dehydration.

What is dehydration in one word?

Definitions of dehydration. the process of extracting moisture . synonyms: desiccation, drying up, evaporation.

What is dehydration in one sentence?

Dehydration happens when your body doesn't have as much fluid as it needs . That means your body can't function properly.

What is hydration in short notes?

Hydration is the process of replacing water in the body . This can be done through drinking water, eating ice chips, eating foods that have high water content, drinking other fluids or an intravenous or IV line. Being dehydrated is when your body is lacking the water levels necessary to function optimally.

What is dehydration explanation for kids?

Dehydration occurs when there isn't enough fluid in the body to keep it working properly . The body needs water to help maintain body temperature, make bodily fluids and for day-to-day functioning.

Dehydration (2024)

Dehydration means your body loses more fluids than you take in. If it's not treated, it can get worse and become a serious problem.

Important

Babies, children and older adults are more at risk of dehydration.

Check if you're dehydrated

Symptoms of dehydration in adults and children include:

feeling thirsty
dark yellow, strong-smelling pee
peeing less often than usual
feeling dizzy or lightheaded
feeling tired
a dry mouth, lips and tongue
sunken eyes

Signs of dehydration in a baby may include:

a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on top of their head
sunken eyes
few or no tears when they cry
not having many wet nappies
being drowsy or irritable

Causes of dehydration

Dehydration can happen more easily if you:

have diabetes
have been sick or have diarrhoea
have been in the sun too long (heatstroke)
have drunk too much alcohol
sweat a lot after exercising
have a high temperature
take medicines that make you pee more (diuretics)

Things you can do to treat dehydration

You should drink fluids if you have symptoms of dehydration.

If you feel sick or have been sick, you may find it hard to drink, so start with small sips and then gradually drink more.

A pharmacist can help with dehydration

If you're being sick or have diarrhoea and are losing too much fluid, you need to put back the sugar, salts and minerals your body has lost.

A pharmacist can recommend oral rehydration solutions. These are powders that you mix with water and then drink.

Ask your pharmacist which rehydration solutions are right for you or your child.

Find a pharmacy

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you're feeling unusually tired (or your child seems drowsy)
you're confused and disorientated
you feel dizzy when you stand up and it does not go away
you have dark yellow pee or you're peeing less than normal (or your baby has fewer wet nappies)
you or your child are breathing quickly or has a fast heart rate
your baby or child has few or no tears when they cry
your baby has a soft spot on their head that sinks inwards (sunken fontanelle)

These can be signs of serious dehydration that need urgent treatment.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Keeping your child hydrated

Once dehydration has been treated, it's important that your child's fluid levels are maintained.

Do

carry on breastfeeding your baby or using formula – try to give small amounts more often than usual
give your baby small sips of extra water if they’re on formula or solid foods
give regular small sips of rehydration solution to replace lost fluids – ask your pharmacist to recommend one
give small children their usual diet

Don’t

do not make formula weaker
do not give young children fruit juice or fizzy drinks – it can make diarrhoea or vomiting worse

How to reduce the risk of dehydration

Drinking fluids regularly can reduce the risk of dehydration. Water or diluted squash are good choices.

You should drink enough during the day, so your pee is a pale clear colour.

Drink more when there's a higher risk of dehydrating. For example, if you're being sick, sweating due to hot weather or exercise, or you have diarrhoea.

Children under the age of 5 should get plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Helping someone you care for

A person you care for may not have a sense of how much they're drinking.

You can help them by:

making sure they drink at mealtimes
making drinking a social thing, like "having a cup of tea"
offering them food with a high water content – for example, soup, ice cream, jelly and fruits like melon

Video: how to prevent dehydration

This video shows you how you can reduce the risk of dehydration.

Media last reviewed: 1 July 2023
Media review due: 1 July 2026

Page last reviewed: 14 November 2022
Next review due: 14 November 2025