Have you ever felt so dehydrated that nausea followed? Maybe you've been feeling nauseous but cannot pinpoint the reason. Dehydration may be at fault! Learn the basics to determine if your nausea could be the result of dehydration. To have your symptoms medically diagnosed, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Castle Rock today.
What is Dehydration?
In basic terms, dehydration is losing more fluid than you're drinking. Maybe you need to drink more water, or you are sweating too much. You may have had alcohol before bed and woke up with a dry tongue feeling awful. There are several causes of dehydration, and knowing them will help to determine if you've found the cause of your nausea.
Causes of Dehydration
Dehydration isn’t always caused by not drinking water. You could become dehydrated if you are ill, as vomiting and diarrhea cause you to lose fluids rapidly. Exercise can make you sweat profusely, and even if you drink some water, you may not always get enough. Being out in hot weather is another cause, as sweating is another common occurrence in scorching temperatures.
Symptoms of Dehydration
If you think you or someone else may be dehydrated, do a quick check for these symptoms:
- Extreme thirst
- Dry tongue or mouth
- Infrequent urination
- Dark urine
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Fatigue
When an infant is dehydrated, they may exhibit these symptoms, but also:
- Crying with no tears
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Sunken cheeks, eyes, or soft spot
Although none of the listed symptoms mention nausea, dehydration can be a cause of nausea.
How Can Dehydration Cause Nausea?
Being dehydrated means that your body doesn’t have enough fluid. As a result, your body can become overheated. The lack of fluid also means that there is not enough to spread throughout your body. These things can result in nausea.
Additionally, severe dehydration can cause hypovolemic shock, which can involve nausea. Avoiding severe (and mild) dehydration is always ideal; prevention is best!
Prevention & Treatment Options
Preventing dehydration is always ideal, even when it seems difficult. When you are incredibly ill and struggling to keep anything down, it is still important to try small sips of water. If children are not interested in drinking, a great option is popsicles. Foods high in water content can be another prevention method.
You may also drink beverages with electrolytes to improve hydration levels. Sports drinks, electrolyte-infused water, or rehydration drinks like Pedialyte can help prevent and treat mild dehydration. If dehydration goes beyond mild, medical attention is necessary.
Medical attention will start with an IV to increase the body’s fluids. However, additional steps may be necessary depending on the severity of the dehydration. Extreme cases can result in kidney damage, brain damage, or death. If you or someone else is experiencing severe dehydration, seek medical attention immediately.
