It's important to be aware of the signs that could indicate that you are in need of medical attention. Here are two such signs.

You are unable to keep down fluids and are showing signs of dehydration

If you are regurgitating any water or other fluids that you try to drink and are beginning to show signs of dehydration (such as low urine output, dizziness, heart palpitations and fatigue), then it is best to go to the nearest medical centre.

The reason for this is as follows: if you become severely dehydrated, your body's electrolyte levels may be affected. If this happens, there could be serious consequences. You could, for example, have a seizure, develop a life-threatening blood clot, develop kidney failure or experience an extreme drop in blood pressure.

As such, if your own efforts to rehydrate yourself are not working and you are experiencing the aforementioned symptoms of dehydration, it is important to seek medical help immediately.

If you go to a medical centre, the doctors may provide you with fluids via an IV line. These fluids will be made up of water and electrolytes and will be delivered into your system through an IV tube that is connected directly to one of your veins.

This method of fluid delivery will mean that even if, for example, you have a stomach bug that is causing you to vomit every time you take a drink, you will still be able to rehydrate your system and avoid the serious complications mentioned above.

Your heart is beating rapidly and you are experiencing extreme chills

If you are experiencing extreme chills and your heart is beating at a far more rapid pace than it normally does, you should locate and then go to a medical centre immediately.

The reason for this is as follows: these types of symptoms can sometimes indicate that a person is suffering from sepsis, a serious infection which, if it goes untreated, can be fatal.

If it turns out that you do have sepsis, getting it treated with antibiotics within an hour or two of the symptoms first appearing will drastically reduce your chances of developing complications related to this infection.

This is an important point to note, as these complications can be extremely serious. Sepsis can, for example, result in limb amputations and can leave a person with permanent muscle weakness and impaired cognition. Many people who have had this illness also develop mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.