4. Impaired Memory and Concentration
Slackened blood flow caused by chronic dehydration robs your brain of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to perform at peak capacity. As a result, you may find that your memory and concentration become severely impaired.
5. Light-Headedness, Dizziness or Vertigo
Living in a constant state of dehydration can cause you to experience frequent dizzy spells and light-headedness due to lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain. In severe cases, vertigo and nausea may result.
6. Frequent Headaches
Both lack of oxygen and increase in blood pressure are the perfect recipe for frequent headaches. If you notice that you seem to be getting them more often, try drinking more water on a daily basis to ease the strain on your brain.
7. Mood Swings or Irritability
Just as is characteristic of being hungry, the need for water tends to make people unusually moody and more easily irritated. Also, with all of the other possible negative effects on your brain and other organs, chronic dehydration can throw of your hormone balance and cause persistent depression, anxiety and other mood disorders.
8. Stomach Pain or Ulcers
Water acts as a buffer between the acidic contents of your stomach and the stomach lining. Being in a state of constant dehydration leaves the inside of your stomach largely unprotected and the constant acid exposure can easily result in ulcers or frequent stomach aches.
9. Constipation or Poor Digestion
In order to properly process the foods you eat, your intestines need a steady supply of water. Without adequate fluids, digestion can slow down causing constipation, gas and bloating, or even the passing of seemingly undigested food.
10. Craving Sweet or Salty Foods
Your liver requires water in order to break down fat cells and use the energy stored there to fuel your body and maintain stable blood-glucose levels. When you get dehydrated and your liver can’t perform this important function, you’ll start to crave foods like sweets and salty foods which your body recognizes as easy sources of energy.
11. Inability to Lose Weight
Because it saps your energy, impairs digestion and frequently causes unhealthy cravings, dehydration can also make it nearly impossible to lose weight. Furthermore, since your body can’t break down fat stores without adequate hydration, even if you force yourself to exercise, you probably won’t be getting the results you want out of your workout.
12. Urinary Tract Infections
A good supply of water is absolutely crucial for the proper function of your urinary tract. When you become dehydrated, your kidneys and bladder will try to stretch what little water it does have last as long as possible. Unfortunately, without a semi-constant stream of fresh urine to flush them out, bacteria have more time to replicate and overpopulate inside the cozy, warm environment inside of your urethra and bladder.
The most obvious sign that your kidneys and bladder are at risk of becoming the next big vacation hotspot for unicellular organisms can be found in the color of your urine. If your flow is consistently darker than a pale shade of yellow, you need to up your water intake, asap!
13. Gout Flare-Ups
Gout is caused by a build up of uric acid which crystallizes around the joints – usually in the hands and feet – which cause intense sharp pain. Because your kidneys need water to flush excess uric acid out of your body, dehydration is one of the biggest factors which contribute to gout flare-ups.