Here's a list of symptoms: dry mouth, kidney and urination problems, thirst, bad breath, joint pain, muscle cramps, weak immunity, mood swings, sugar cravings, and asthma and allergy symptoms. These are all signs of dehydration, some of which may be more surprising than others.
A woman can experience dehydration at any age for a variety of reasons, but if you're in your 40s to 50s and/or going through menopause, you may be wondering: Can menopause cause dehydration?
There are several physiological changes in the body that occur around the same age when perimenopause and menopause begin that can make it easy to think that yes, menopause does cause dehydration.
"The amount of water we have in our bodies decreases as we age," says Taniqua Miller, MD, OB/GYN. That's because it's common to start losing 3-5% of your body's muscle mass starting at age 30. Less muscle mass means less water content in the body and thus increases the risk of dehydration.
Menopause symptoms that can cause dehydration
To be clear, menopause can definitely contribute to dehydration. For example, an overactive bladder is a common symptom of menopause and can lead to more frequent urination. To alleviate these symptoms, many women restrict fluids and thus risk dehydration.
Meanwhile, physiological changes due to hormonal fluctuations during menopause, hot flashes and night sweats, are associated with a lack of estrogen. All of these cause other symptoms that can be dehydrating.
How to fix the dehydration situation during menopause?
-Eat more fruits and vegetables
-Limit caffeine and alcohol
Source: Well+ Good
