A person can become dehydrated for a variety of reasons. You may become dehydrated when you spend an excessive amount of time out in the heat, when you are sick and expelling more liquids than you are taking in, when you have a fever, excessive exercise, diabetes, severe sunburns or when you are physically exhausted. Of course, there are many other conditions that can also lead to dehydration.

No matter what may have caused you to possibly become dehydrated, you want to learn about the signs and symptoms so you are more educated on what to watch for and when to get help.

First signs of dehydration

The first signs of dehydration include a thirst that's hard to quench, a dry mouth that may include a slight foaming, weakness and some dizziness. If you are experiencing these symptoms then it is very important for you to find a cool place to rest and drink water. Don't drink any fluids high in sodium because they will cause you to become even more dehydrated. A couple examples of drinks you want to stay away from include alcohol and soda.

During the first signs of dehydration you should also try to keep cool by entering an area with air conditioning. If none is available then you should sit in front of a fan, or use papers or a piece of cardboard to fan yourself. Take off any excessive clothing and place wet rags around your neck. Allow yourself plenty of time to rest and continue drinking water.

More extreme signs of dehydration

If you don't catch the dehydration early on then it can progress to more extreme symptoms. A few examples of these symptoms include Heart palpitations where your heart feels as if it's beating too hard or fast, fainting, confusion, a fever, a lack of sweat and little to no urination. If you get to the point where you are experiencing these symptoms then you want to get in to your doctor or an urgent care health center immediately. If you are unable to get in to see your doctor or a doctor in an urgent care, then it's best for you to go straight to the hospital.

You will more than likely need to be given a saline solution through an IV at a quality health care center to get fluids into you immediately. You will also require a certain amount of monitoring if your condition is deemed serious enough. Dehydration should be taken seriously and not ignored.