Signs You are not Drinking Sufficient Water (Rutgers NJAES) (2024)

March 2019

Karen Ensle EdD, RDN, FAND, CFCS
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County

The average adult body is made up of between 55-60 percent water, which is an indication as to why it's so important to replenish these vital stores. Below are some of the symptoms associated with not drinking enough water.

  • Dry skin that does not improve even using lotion daily. It's normal for our skin to change with the seasons. Dry skin lacks sebum (oil) and should respond to the application of oil-rich products. When skin loses its luster due to dehydration, start by drinking more water each day.
  • A dry, sticky mouth and feeling thirsty is a sign of dehydration. These dry conditions in your mouth can cause a serious case of bad breath. A dry mouth and increased thirst can be a sign of something more serious so making an appointment with your dentist is a good idea.
  • Headaches often accompany a state of dehydration. According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF), headaches are actually a common sign that someone is experiencing mild to moderate dehydration including a migraine! The NHF suggests drinking only water when experiencing headaches and avoiding sugary or overly salty sports beverages, which can worsen the dehydration.
  • Tiredness and lack of sleep adds to dehydration. Fatigue can seriously affect your sense of well-being, ability to concentrate, along with feeling clumsy and prone to accidents. Sipping the right amount of water throughout the day might clear it up.
  • Gaining weight may be a sign of dehydration. Studies have shown that drinking as little has 500ml (about 17 ounces) of water can boost your metabolism by up to 30%. Many health and wellness experts advise an increase in water consumption among other tips for losing and maintaining weight.
  • Constipation is often the result of not drinking enough fluid and eating enough high fiber foods. Get into the habit of drinking plenty of water throughout the day. After you've increased your intake, you should notice an improvement in your bathroom activities. If not, check with your medical professional just in case something else is going on.
  • Urinary tract infections or UTIs often arise after bacteria has entered into our bodies through sexual intercourse or failing to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom, or dehydration. Drinking water helps to flush bacteria from our bladders, thus preventing infection from setting in. Warning signs that our water intake is too low include dark colored urine or a decreased need to urinate at all.
  • Moodiness may be caused by lack of fluids. Some research has shown that just mild dehydration can lead to neurological changes that affect our ability to focus and can cause irritability. Even more shocking is that you only need to be 1 percent below your optimal level of hydration to feel these negative effects.

Follow the Institute of Medicine's adequate intake guidelines. Fluid intake should be 13 cups for men and nine cups for women. Obviously, if you are sweating, increase your intake accordingly and use common sense. If it feels like you have had enough water, respect your body. Remember, if you feel thirsty, you are probably already mildly dehydrated. If your mouth feels parched, take small steps and drink a cup or two of water? to get back on track!

Signs You are not Drinking Sufficient Water (Rutgers NJAES) (2024)

FAQs

Signs You are not Drinking Sufficient Water (Rutgers NJAES)? ›

“If you don't get enough water, hard stools and constipation could be common side effects, along with abdominal pain and cramps.” Dull skin. Dehydration shows up on your face in the form of dry, ashy skin that seems less radiant, plump and elastic. Fatigue.

What are the warning signs of not drinking enough water? ›

Check if you're dehydrated
  • 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.

How can you tell if your body is lacking water? ›

“If you don't get enough water, hard stools and constipation could be common side effects, along with abdominal pain and cramps.” Dull skin. Dehydration shows up on your face in the form of dry, ashy skin that seems less radiant, plump and elastic. Fatigue.

Which of the following is a symptom of not drinking enough water? ›

Two early signs of dehydration are thirst and dark-coloured urine. This is the body's way of trying to increase water intake and decrease water loss. Other symptoms may include: dizziness or light-headedness.

How do I know if I'm drinking enough water? ›

“Typically if your urine is a pale straw-yellow, it means you're well hydrated. If it becomes a little too yellow, it means you should drink some water.” Here's what your pee color could indicate: Clear or pale straw-yellow: You're a water all-star, keep up the good work.

What organs shut down first when dehydrated? ›

She explains that in severe dehydration, your kidneys don't have enough water to filter your blood adequately, which can lead to kidney insufficiency or kidney failure. In turn, you may become uremic, aka have toxins build up in your blood. In extreme cases, this can lead to your heart stopping (cardiac arrest).

What happens to your body when water levels are low? ›

If you're thirsty, you're already mildly dehydrated, and that can cause signs of dehydration like headache, fatigue, dizziness and more. Dehydration can contribute to life-threatening illnesses like heatstroke.

What are the side effects of not enough water? ›

dry skin, tongue and mouth. tiredness. irritability. light headedness or fainting.

What organ is affected by lack of water? ›

Prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure.

What drink will hydrate you the fastest? ›

We've listed the best drinks for you to hydrate below, so make sure to read them all.
  1. Water. No surprises here. ...
  2. Milk & milk alternatives. One scientific study . has suggested that milk is right up there with the most hydrating drinks. ...
  3. Fruit and herb-infused water. ...
  4. Fruit juice. ...
  5. Sports drinks. ...
  6. Coconut Water. ...
  7. Tea.

Can you be dehydrated and still pee clear? ›

The issue, as mentioned in the study above, is that while urine color can be somewhat indicative of hydration status, there is not a linear relationship between actual hydration status and the color of your pee.

What happens when you start drinking enough water? ›

Water aids the digestive system, helps prevent constipation, flushes toxins from the body, promotes good kidney function, keeps your joints and muscles lubricated, supports healthier and younger-looking skin, and helps regulate body temperature.

What will I notice if I drink more water? ›

You Could Lose Weight

That means proper hydration could help you lose weight. Extra water can replace empty, sugary calories many people drink with meals. Water also seems to speed up your metabolism, and it takes up space in your stomach so you feel more full.

Will I notice a difference if I drink more water? ›

But there's good news! As you drink more liquid, your kidney function and hormones will start to change and you'll likely notice your body recalibrating and becoming more efficient at handling the high water volume. You might even notice that your body will start to crave more water the more you drink.

Does coffee cancel out water intake? ›

So, even when coffee makes you urinate more, it shouldn't dehydrate you — as you don't lose as much fluid as you originally drank. Drinking moderate amounts of coffee shouldn't dehydrate you. However, drinking large amounts of coffee — such as 5 or more cups at once — may have a minor dehydrating effect.

What organ is affected when you don't drink enough water? ›

Prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure.

What happens when there is too little water in the body? ›

Being dehydrated can affect your physical and mental performance. Your body does not work as well if it is dehydrated. People who don't drink enough water every day are at greater risk of problems such as: kidney stones.

What happens when your water levels are too low? ›

On the other hand, if the water concentration is too low outside compared with the inside of the cells, water will leave by osmosis and the cells may shrivel. If body cells lose or gain too much water by osmosis, they do not function efficiently.

What happens when you finally start drinking enough water? ›

Water aids the digestive system, helps prevent constipation, flushes toxins from the body, promotes good kidney function, keeps your joints and muscles lubricated, supports healthier and younger-looking skin, and helps regulate body temperature.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 6255

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.