The Sign Of Dehydration You Never Expected

Dehydration occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to help it perform its most basic functions. According to Self, this is often a result of not drinking enough water and fluids throughout the day. While the body has a way of letting you know when you need to drink more water, you may already be dehydrated by the time you start feeling thirsty. In fact, dehydration can sometimes sneak up on you and take you by surprise, especially if you're sweating a lot or living in a hot and humid environment.

Women's health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider told Self that the body needs water in order to stay hydrated and function correctly. Becoming dehydrated, however, means that there isn't a sufficient amount of water and fluids in your body to help carry out these essential processes, some of which include digestion, temperature regulation, and oxygenation. As a result, dehydration can potentially have "dire consequences" and cause your body to shut down. 

One surprising way you can tell if you're dehydrated, however, is if you're peeing a lot. According to experts at Mindbodygreen, frequent urination can be a sign of dehydration. While this may seem counterintuitive, drinking less fluids can sometimes have the opposite effect on your bladder. Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, a board-certified urogynecologist and pelvic floor expert, told Mindbodygreen that your urine can become highly concentrated with various chemicals and salts when you're dehydrated, which can end up irritating the lining of your bladder.

Believe it or not, this irritation can actually make you have to pee more often. Although frequent urination can also be caused by drinking more water, the color of your urine should either be clear or light yellow if you're fully hydrated. If you're dehydrated, however, your urine will appear quite dark in comparison. Fortunately, you can remedy this by increasing your water intake.