Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than you take in.

About 60% of the human body is made of water, but this is lost constantly throughout the day through sweat, urine, and regular bodily functions such as breathing.

Adults should be drinking around 2 litres (6-8 glasses) of water a day to keep replenished and avoid dehydration.

People who have acute dehydration – which is caused by prolonged physical activity such as endurance events, extreme heat exposure or from not drinking enough water – can normally make a quick recovery through rest and rehydration.

What is chronic dehydration?

Chronic dehydration is a condition when dehydration occurs for longer periods, and it persists despite the amount of fluids you drink.

Chronic dehydration requires medical attention – if left untreated, the body is forced to function without adequate water, placing pressure on the organs, compromising their function, and leading to health conditions such as poor kidney function, kidney stones, hypertension, urinary tract infection, intestinal failure, high blood pressure, and even dementia.

Chronic dehydration can be mild or severe, which can lead to long-term complications so should be treated immediately.

 Symptoms of chronic dehydration 

Symptoms of dehydration can include excessive thirst, dark–coloured urine, muscle tiredness, dizziness, and light-headedness.

With chronic dehydration, some of these symptoms may be prevalent but it can present differently with other signs such as fatigue, constipation, altered digestive function, muscle weakness, headaches, poor concentration, confusion, and dry, flaky skin.

Chronic dehydration causes

There are various causes of chronic dehydration which can include:

  • Heatstroke
  • Frequent or prolonged bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting 
  • Underlying health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and gluten sensitivity
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Not drinking enough water
  • A poor diet – not consuming enough fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Excessive exercise and sweating

How long does it take to reverse chronic dehydration?

The reversal of chronic dehydration depends on several factors such as age, underlying health conditions, and the duration of the dehydration period. It usually takes between 1-2 weeks to restore hydration levels and throughout this time it is imperative to keep fluid intake high, drinking regularly throughout the day, even when not thirsty, and supplementing with electrolytes.

therapist-writing-on-clipboard-during-session

Treatment for chronic dehydration

Chronic dehydration is very serious and requires medical attention to ensure an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.

When recovering from chronic dehydration it’s important to refrain from drinking caffeine, alcohol, and reduce stress levels to improve hydration and recovery, and keep fluid levels high throughout the day (reducing in the evening to prevent frequent trips to the bathroom throughout the night).

 A faster recovery may be made with the IV Boost Hydration Booster which contains a mix of glucose, saline, sodium bicarbonate, Vitamin B Complex and Vitamin C, designed to rehydrate, decrease inflammation, energise and relieve symptoms of nausea, headaches, and digestive issues.

All our IV treatments are medically led and each treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs and symptoms to deliver the ultimate hydration to optimise health and wellness.

For further information call our friendly team on 020 3095 0002 or email info@ivboost.uk