Symptoms of dehydration: What they are and what to do if you experience them

Staying hydrated can be tricky when you’re sick, particularly when experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. Switching to a diet of clear liquids and replacing lost fluids and electrolytes with sports drinks can help. If you or your child experience symptoms of severe dehydration, seek immediate medical attention.

Mild dehydration can usually be reversed by consuming more fluids. Severe dehydration is a serious medical condition and requires urgent medical attention. Reducing your alcohol consumption overhaul will help you avoid some of the bigger health risks from long-term dehydration and drinking. But if you insist on having a drink or two, there are things you can do to mitigate the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Remember that list of things that makes alcohol-related dehydration worse?

Does Non-Alcoholic Beer Dehydrate you? Learn Why It Might Be Better Than Water

But prolific pee production isn’t the only way alcohol dehydrates you. Alcohol delays stomach emptying, which can cause vomiting, a sure way to become dehydrated [1]. For reference, a standard drink—12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of liquor—has 14 grams of alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [3]. If you’ve ever heard the term, “breaking the seal,” you know that alcohol has a diuretic effect on the body, meaning it causes you to urinate more frequently. The process is called diuresis, which on its own causes dehydration [1]. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy an adult beverage or two from time to time.

In addition, alcohol negatively impacts neurotransmitter balance and mood regulation, which can lead to symptoms of unease and anxiety on the days after drinking alcohol. Occasional alcohol-related dehydration tends to manifest in symptoms commonly known as a hangover and can typically be managed without medical attention. Alcohol affects various physiological functions and interferes with urine production, fluid regulation, and electrolyte balance, all of which are crucial for maintaining proper hydration. Let’s look at why alcohol dehydrates you and discover how electrolytes can help prevent alcohol-induced dehydration. Since the alcohol content reaches your bloodstream faster, you might find yourself bringing up politics with Aunt Janet just two drinks in.

How long does it take to rehydrate your body after drinking alcohol?

One large study found excessive alcohol consumption is linked to accelerated facial aging. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the
National Library of Medicine’s list
of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. Stoutz emphasizes the importance of hydrating before and during drinking, which can minimize how dehydrated you does alcohol dehydrate you become. “Stronger alcohol might provoke more dehydration, but it truly has not been studied enough to know for sure,” she says, pointing to a 2017 study published in Nutrients. That paper summarizes that research into whether stronger alcohol is linked with increased dehydration is inconclusive. These are substances that promote urine production, or diuresis.

If you mix alcohol with caffeinated drinks (ex. rum and Coke), you’re also increasing your dehydration factor, as caffeine will make you pee more which leads to further dehydration. Your body is attempting to get rid of sugar; hence, the frequent urination. Your urine may be sweet smelling and it may be accompanied by weight loss. Dehydration may also impair blood sugar response in some, such as those with type 2 diabetes. Research from 2017 found that people with diabetes who had 3 days of low water intake had an impaired blood glucose response.