Can Being Dehydrated Make You Tired? 5 Other Surprising Side Effects of Forgetting Your H2O

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Author Name: Mia Barnes
Date: Tuesday August 6, 2024

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Feeling exhausted is no fun. You can always grab a second cup of coffee or jog in place to wake yourself up, but how will you manage your energy long-term? Your sleepy struggles might come down to how much water you drink. Check out if being dehydrated can make you tired and what you can do about it.

Can Being Dehydrated Make You Tired?

Being dehydrated can make you tired because it affects your blood pressure. When you don’t drink water, your blood pressure drops due to water loss in your bloodstream. Your brain and other organs don’t get enough blood, leading to fatigue.

A person in blue linen pants with thin white stripes carries a navy water bottle. It shines against the blurry greenery in the background.

Other Side Effects of Dehydration People Often Forget

You know you need water when you start feeling thirsty, but that’s not the only time to grab a glass of water. Watch for other symptoms that could mean you’ve gone without H2O for too long.

1. Bad Breath

Intense dehydration results in dry mouth. You’ve likely felt parched and searched for the nearest beverage. Bacteria lingers in your mouth when you don’t have enough bacteria to wash it away.

Find some cinnamon tea when you aren’t close to your toothbrush or a water bottle. The cinnamon naturally reduces bad breath odor while the extra water will help your dehydration. Just steer clear of artificial sweeteners, as they’ll work against your dental health while you try to solve your bad breath.

2. Brain Fog

Brain fog happens when exhaustion, bad moods and slight memory loss collide. The brain needs water to support its functionality. Without it, you’ll experience decreased cognitive performance and not feel quite like yourself. You don’t need to wait until bed to recharge. Refill your water bottle and you’ll start feeling better after a couple of big gulps.

3. Muscle Cramps

Water naturally contains electrolytes, depending on its source and sodium levels. If you don’t get enough, your muscles may begin to cramp because they have fewer electrolytes to support your muscle fibers. This could present as an annoying muscle twitch in your arm or leg cramps that prevent you from walking. It depends on the severity of your dehydration.

4. Allergy Symptoms

When you aren’t getting enough water, your body increases its histamine production, causing allergy symptoms like coughing. You might think your seasonal allergies or asthma are acting up, but it’s potentially just your body requesting a glass of ice water. If your typical treatments don’t have the same effect as they usually do, it’s time to increase your water intake and potentially make a doctor’s appointment.

5. Flushed Skin

Water travels to your skin cells after you enjoy a refreshing sip. Without it, your skin cells deal with inflammation that may double as splotches of redness. If your usual skincare routine isn’t getting rid of your flushed skin, you might be dealing with some dehydration.

Tools to Maintain Your Hydration Every Day

It’s much easier to maintain your water intake if you have helpful resources. Since staying dehydrated can make you tired, moody and inflamed, set yourself up for success with hydration-boosting tools.

A purple hydration tracker band for water bottles with five buttons to pop out.

1. Hydration Tracker for Water Bottles

Experts recommend that cisgender women drink around 11.5 cups of water daily, while cisgender men should drink 15.5 cups every day. It’s easy to keep in mind when you wake up, but people often lose track of their water intake as their day progresses. Keep a hydration tracker strapped around your water bottle. You only have to count the number of popped bubbles to remember how much water you have left to drink before bed.

$14.99 from Amazon

Four water bottles in changing pastel colors with hourly water tracking levels marked on each bottle.

2. Half-Gallon Water Bottle With Time Markers

Some people don’t want an extra accessory hanging off their water bottles. If you still need a visual aid to maintain your hydration, try using a water bottle with time markers. It’s another easy way to ensure you’re on track to finish your bottle by the end of the day. A multi-pack also gives you options. Choose the color that matches your mood and you’ll still have three ready to go in case you can’t get to the dishes when you get back home.

$13.99 from Amazon

A smart water bottle that's black with rainbow glowing colors on the bottom rim.

3. Smart Glowing Water Bottle

Anyone who loves the latest tech gadgets will adore the latest smart water bottle from Hidrate Spark. It uses an LED smart sensor to keep track of how often you pick it up. The bottom of the bottle glows when you’ve gone long enough without supporting your body’s need for H2O.

You’ll also get to download the corresponding app. While your vacuum-insulated bottle keeps your water cold and prevents condensation, you can explore the app. It uses a Bluetooth connection to check your bottle’s data. It will show how much water you’ve consumed, reveal your daily hydration streak and give virtual awards for consistency.

$79.99 from Amazon

A pack of Liquid IV hydration multiplier packets in a four-flavor variety pack.

4. Liquid IV On-the-Go Sticks

If you’re like most people, you’ve likely complained that you don’t drink enough water because it doesn’t taste good. Why choose a flavorless cup of water when you could have a soda or energy drink instead? Liquid IV changes that.

Pour one of the hydration packs into your water bottle and shake it up to easily dissolve the powder in at least 16 ounces of water. Your drink will instantly gain sodium, vitamins, nutrients, electrolytes and natural sweeteners. Keep them wherever you typically don’t drink enough water to stay hydrated on the go.

$27.99 from Amazon

A bag of Day One blue raspberry electro gummies with three gummies sitting in a pyramid in front of it.

5. Day One Electrolyte Gummies

The most challenging part about staying hydrated is always having water by your side. Sometimes, that’s just not possible. If you live a busy lifestyle or you’re always on your feet, keep a few Day One electrolyte gummies in your pocket. 

Each vegan, keto-friendly serving has 385 milligrams of electrolytes and only one gram of sugar. Take one to satisfy your body’s hydration needs in addition to your usual liquid intake. You might feel more like yourself by finding the dehydration solution that fits your lifestyle rather than struggling to just drink more water again.

$25.87 from Amazon

A woman in a blue and white striped button down holds a closed laptop against her chest while one hand holds a white water bottle.

Stay Hydrated to Stay Awake Without Caffeine

Being dehydrated can make you tired and cause other symptoms too. Avoid them by learning how to spot dehydration symptoms and keep them at bay with helpful tools. Whether you want to drink more water, flavor every sip or find a creative hydration solution, you’ll feel better because you’re giving your body the H2O it needs to thrive.

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