When I say dehydration, what comes to your mind? Extreme thirst? Profuse sweating? Weakness? But did you know that dehydration is much more than just the loss of water?
In fact, this lack of awareness around the symptoms of dehydration leads to a condition called silent dehydration - not knowing that one is dehydrated to some extent. It affects millions worldwide and is especially common in India with its hot and humid climate.
2022 was one of India's hottest summers ever with an unprecedented 280 heatwave days, and in 2024, India has been reeling under the longest spells of recorded heatwave in many more parts of the country. The UN has forecast that 2023-2027 will be the warmest five year period ever recorded, making more people vulnerable to dehydration So, what is silent dehydration? How do we identify it? What should we be doing to manage and treat silent dehydration? How serious can it get?