13 Warning Signs You’re Way Too Dehydrated

Dry mouth, scientifically known as xerostomia, is when the salivary glands don’t make enough saliva, which helps prevent tooth decay, limits bacterial growth, improves digestion, and cleans the mouth. It is a common side effect of certain medications, but very commonly, it is one of the first signs of dehydration. Drinking water often will help keep the mouth moist.

If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night with no apparent reason, you may need to drink some water. Even mild dehydration dries out the mouth and nasal passages, which can lead to snoring and hoarseness in the morning, according to the National Sleep Foundation. It’s common to lose fluid during sleep by simply breathing, especially if you breathe through the mouth. There is a lot of damage you can do to your body when you don’t sleep well.

The general rule of thumb is that the lighter the color of your urine, the more hydrated you are. The darker it is, the more dehydrated you are, provided you are not on any medications and are in good general health. This is because fluids dilute the yellow pigments in urine. So if you don’t drink enough water, the yellow color will be more concentrated.

Not enough fluids in the body means the volume of blood in your body goes down. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure, which may result in the brain not getting enough blood and oxygen, leading to lightheadedness and dizziness. The condition of low blood pressure is not always caused by dehydration.

Dehydration is a very common reason for headaches. Mild or severe headaches, and even migraines, can be triggered by not enough water because then the body doesn’t have enough electrolytes to function properly. Scientists are not exactly sure why dehydration causes headaches. One conjecture is that blood vessels may narrow, making it harder for oxygen and blood to get to the brain, causing a headache. Headaches can also be a sign of other serious conditions — it’s among the 25 symptoms people always ignore but never should.