A dull headache, tiredness and difficulty concentrating during the late afternoon may not always be caused by a demanding workday. According to nephrologist Dr Deepak Shankar Ray, dehydration is a commonly overlooked reason why people experience headaches and fatigue, particularly around the middle or end of the working day.

Dr Ray explained that office routines often lead people to go several hours without drinking enough water. Employees may postpone water breaks during meetings, become absorbed in work or depend heavily on tea and coffee instead of maintaining adequate fluid intake. In hot and humid weather, the body also loses more water through sweating, further increasing the risk of dehydration.

The doctor said dehydration can produce several noticeable symptoms that should not be ignored. These include darker urine, headaches, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness and reduced concentration. A person who feels unusually tired or mentally foggy in the afternoon may therefore need to assess whether they have consumed enough fluids throughout the day.

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Dehydration can affect both physical and mental performance. Inadequate fluid levels may leave people feeling weak, less alert and unable to focus on routine tasks. For working professionals, this can appear as a sudden decline in productivity, accompanied by a persistent headache or a feeling of exhaustion despite having had sufficient sleep.

Dr Ray advised people to make regular water breaks part of their daily routine, especially when working for long hours or spending time in warm conditions. Drinking water at regular intervals, rather than waiting until intense thirst develops, can help reduce the possibility of dehydration-related discomfort. People should also pay attention to changes such as unusually dark urine or dizziness.

However, the doctor cautioned that these symptoms are not exclusive to dehydration and may also occur because of other health conditions or lifestyle factors. Individuals should therefore avoid immediately assuming that dehydration is the only cause of recurring headaches or fatigue. Persistent, severe or frequently recurring symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional.

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