Health Corner 2- Urine Dehydration Chart

by: desertknightfm Rhojel


Are you dehydrated?

 What can your urine color tell you about your hydration? At what point are you dehydrated? How do keep from dehydrating? It's so important that you learn the dehydration symptoms no matter what you do as a profession. Learning the dehydration signs and how to treat someone who is dehydrated can save a life, perhaps even your own.

What are the causes of dehydration?

Now, of course, exercise and sun exposure are not the only reasons for dehydration. Anytime you lose fluid from your body and don't replenish the fluids, you can get dehydrated. Illness is another common reason people get dehydrated. When you are sick and experiencing diarrhea and vomiting, you expel a lot of body fluids. It can be difficult to replace these fluids if you continue to be sick and/or find yourself getting sick from ingesting any food or water. If you are sick and vomiting, it is best to sip water slowly over time.

Other causes of dehydration can vary. Taking any stimulants, such as caffeine or more severe stimulants can cause you body to lose fluids. So a cup of coffee or a cola are not recommended drinks to replenish your body fluids. Any sugary drink for that matter is not a good way to quench your thirst and prevent dehydration. This is because for every molecule of sugar, it takes a molecule of water to break it down. The best cure for dehydration is drinking water. However, if you have sports drinks and other fluids designed for re-hydrating that body, those can work even better since they also replace electrolytes.

The following Dehydration Urine Color Chart will help you use your urine color as an indicator of your level of dehydration and what actions you should take to help return your body back to a normal level of hydration.

 Dehydration Urine Color Chart

Doing ok. You're probably well hydrated. Drink water as normal.

You're just fine. You could stand to drink a little water now, maybe a small glass of water.

Drink about 1/2 bottle of water (1/4 liter) within the hour, or drink a whole

bottle (1/2 liter) of water if you're outside and/or sweating.

Drink about 1/2 bottle of water (1/4 liter) right now, or drink a whole bottle (1/2 liter) of water if you're outside and/or sweating.

Drink 2 bottles of water right now (1 liter). If your urine is darker than this and/or red or brown, then dehydration may not be your problem. See a doctor.