What are the dangers of dehydration?

What are the dangers of dehydration?

Throughout the day, your body loses fluids and electrolytes through sweating and urine, which is naturally replaced through the foods and drinks you consume. Yet, when you lose more than you can replace from excessive sweating, diarrhea or vomiting, this results in dehydration.

Mild dehydration can lead to various symptoms, such feeling more thirsty, a dry mouth or highly concentrated urine, which are easy to manage. However, if dehydrated for a long period of time, the body can experience more dangerous health implications which can cause long-term or permanent damage. One of the easiest ways to prevent this is to drink enough water and regularly hydrate with an oral rehydration solution, like SOS, to ensure your body has enough fluids and electrolytes to stay healthy.

Some people are at greater risk than others, including: infants and young children, the elderly, anyone with a chronic illness or those who live an active lifestyle and spend a lot of time outdoors. It is important for everyone, especially these vulnerable groups, to take measures to avoid dehydration in order to prevent damaging their health.

1. Heat Injury

Heat-related injuries are typically caused by dehydration and can be extremely damaging to your body, usually beginning with heat cramps, followed by heat exhaustion and, ultimately, heat stroke. 

When the body temperature rises, it sweats as a cooling mechanism. Sweating requires fluids to function, which means that when you are dehydrated, your body cannot sweat properly and therefore cannot cool down properly. In extreme cases, this can result in heat stroke, where the body’s temperature regulation fails and causes confusion, lethargy and seizures.

Heat stroke can be life-threatening. We advise seeking urgent medical attention if you think you're experiencing heat stroke. 

2. Kidney Complications

Water plays a vital role in flushing waste from your blood in the form of urine, as well as ensuring blood vessels are open to allow nutrients to travel in the blood to your kidneys. Mild dehydration can affect these systems and cause tiredness as your muscles and organs do not get the nutrients they need. However, if prolonged dehydration occurs, this can lead to permanent kidney damage.

Dehydration can contribute to the build-up of waste and acids in the body which can clog the kidneys, form kidney stones and cause urinary tract infections, all of which can have long-term effects on the kidneys. 

3. Seizures

When you are dehydrated, your body doesn’t only lack fluids but important electrolytes such as potassium and sodium, too. These electrolytes play a crucial part in carrying electrical signals from cell to cell and regulating nerve and muscle function. When your electrolytes are imbalanced, these electrical signals can become mixed up which can lead to involuntary muscle contractions, seizures and loss of consciousness.

4. Low Blood Volume Shock

Hypovolemic Shock, otherwise known as Low Blood Volume Shock, is a condition that occurs when you lose more than 20% of your body's blood or fluid supply. This condition can be fatal, as severe fluid loss hinder’s the heart’s ability to pump enough blood, containing vital nutrients and oxygen, around the body. In serious cases, this can lead to organ failure and requires urgent emergency medical attention.

5. Impaired Cognitive Function

Dehydration can affect cognitive function and cause impaired coordination, attention and thinking abilities. The body only needs to be 2% dehydrated for this to occur, which means it is a possible danger even when mildly dehydrated. Mild hydration is very common as a result of exercise-induced dehydration among athletes who lose lots of fluids through sweating.

H2: How to avoid the dangers of dehydration

The key to staying healthy and avoiding the dangers of dehydration is to hydrate quickly and effectively. SOS Hydration is a powerful oral rehydration drink, combining the perfect blend of electrolytes to nourish and rehydrate your body quickly. Drinking SOS will allow your body to absorb three times more water than just drinking water alone.

The SOS formula meets World Health Organization standards for an Oral Rehydration Solution, making it just as effective as an IV Drip and is a great solution for combating mild to moderate dehydration, and helping to protect against these life-threatening conditions.

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