28/08/2024
What is dehydration?
Itâs a warm summer day, and youâre feeling parched. Make sure you reach for a tall glass of water. Youâre already beginning to feel the signs of dehydration.
Dehydration is the absence of enough water in your body. The best way to beat it is to drink before you get thirsty. If youâre thirsty, youâre already mildly dehydrated, and that can cause signs of dehydration like headache, fatigue, dizziness and more. Dehydration can contribute to life-threatening illnesses like heatstroke.
Dehydration is a condition in which you lose so much body fluid that your body canât function normally. It occurs when you lose more fluids than you take in. Dehydration may happen on a particularly hot day if you sweat a lot, or if youâre sick with fever, diarrhea or vomiting. It can also occur if donât drink enough water, or if youâre taking a medication that increases your p*e (urine) output.
When you arenât properly hydrated, your bodyâs natural response is thirst. You should respond to thirst right away by drinking fluids â preferably water. You can usually treat mild dehydration by drinking more fluids. But dehydration isnât always easy to spot. It can be found in the aging parent who forgets to drink water or the fussy baby who canât tell you theyâre thirsty. Make sure to keep your loved ones hydrated. If you or a loved one has a moderate to severe case of dehydration, you may need to go to the hospital to get IV fluids. Left untreated, severe dehydration can be fatal.
Water helps:
Aid digestion and get rid of waste.
Your joints work. Water lubricates them.
Make saliva (which you need to eat).
Balance your bodyâs chemicals. Your brain needs it to create hormones and neurotransmitters.
Deliver oxygen all over your body.
Cushion your bones.
Regulate your body temperature.
Act as a shock absorber for your brain, your spinal cord and, if youâre pregnant, the fetus.
Water is important to your body, especially in warm weather. It keeps your body from overheating. When you exercise, your muscles generate heat. To keep from burning up, your body needs to get rid of that heat. The main way your body discards heat in warm weather is through sweat. As sweat evaporates, it cools the tissues beneath. Lots of sweating reduces your bodyâs water level, and this loss of fluid affects normal bodily functions.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
If you suspect that you or your child is severely dehydrated, seek immediate medical attention. Signs of dehydration in kids include:
Dry tongue and dry lips.
No tears when crying.
Fewer than six wet diapers per day (for infants), and no wet diapers or urination for eight hours (in toddlers).
Sunken soft spot on your infantâs head.
Sunken eyes.
Dry, wrinkled skin.
Deep, rapid breathing.
Cool, blotchy hands and feet.
Dehydration symptoms in adults may include:
Headache, delirium and confusion.
Tiredness (fatigue).
Dizziness, weakness and lightheadedness.
Dry mouth and/or a dry cough.
High heart rate but low blood pressure.
Loss of appetite but maybe craving sugar.
Flushed (red) skin.
Swollen feet.
Muscle cramps.
Heat intolerance or chills.
Constipation.
Dark-colored p*e (urine). Your p*e should be a pale, clear color.
Can dehydration cause fever?
No, dehydration doesnât typically lead to fever. But many diseases and disorders that cause fever can also cause dehydration.
Does dehydration cause high blood pressure?
Dehydration can actually make your blood pressure drop to dangerously low levels. When this happens, your body goes to work to try to correct it. But in doing so, your body can overcorrect and make your blood pressure skyrocket.
Can dehydration cause diarrhea?
No, but diarrhea can cause dehydration. Severe diarrhea causes a loss of fluids in your body.
Can dehydration cause nausea?
Yes, dehydration can lead to disorientation and dehydration headaches. One of the symptoms of these headaches is nausea and vomiting.
What causes dehydration?
Dehydration happens when you donât drink enough water, or when you lose water quickly through, for example, sweating, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Certain medications like diuretics (water pills) can result in increased urination and dehydration.
What are the risk factors for dehydration?
Anyone can become dehydrated if they donât drink enough water. But infants and children are at a higher risk because they may be unable to communicate that theyâre thirsty. This is especially important when theyâre sick. So, make sure to monitor the amount of fluids your child takes in.
Adults ages 65 and older are also at a higher risk. They donât carry as much water in their bodies and they canât tell as easily when theyâre thirsty. If youâre a caregiver, especially for someone with memory problems, offer them drinks frequently. Even if theyâre enduring an uncomfortable infection like a UTI (urinary tract infection), they still need to consume liquids.
What are the complications of dehydration?
If you or your child has symptoms of severe dehydration, get medical care right away. Severe dehydration can lead to serious complications, including:
Electrolyte imbalances.
Heat-related illnesses like heatstroke.
Kidney issues including kidney stones and kidney failure.
Shock, coma and even death.
Diagnosis and Tests
Mild: You just have to take in more fluids orally (by mouth). Drink water, but replace fluids with a drink that contains electrolytes if you experience significant sweating or fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea. You should feel better after five or 10 minutes.
Moderate: Moderate dehydration requires an IV (hydration through your vein). Youâll get this in an urgent care, emergency room or hospital.
Severe: See a healthcare provider if your symptoms of dehydration are severe. Call your local emergency services number or go to an emergency room.
If youâre seeing a healthcare provider, theyâll figure out what level youâre at to assign you treatment.
Management and Treatment
What is the fastest way to cure dehydration?
Drink water. You could also try increasing your hydration with oral rehydration sachets â powders you mix in with your water.
How can I help my dehydrated child get better at home?
Carefully follow your childâs providerâs instructions for feeding.
Donât give children younger than age 2 over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for diarrhea, unless instructed by their provider.
Encourage your child to drink fluids that are unsweetened (sugary sodas, juices and flavored gelatin can irritate diarrhea).
Continue to breastfeed (chestfeed) infants normally.
Electrolyte solutions may be helpful when given as recommended by their provider.
Slowly increase the amount of fluid and food you give your child.
Give your child acetaminophen (TylenolÂŽ) for fever. Donât give your child aspirin.
Allow your child plenty of rest.
Watch for signs of dehydration that get worse or come back.
Hospital treatment of dehydration
You can usually treat dehydration at home, but severe cases may require hospitalization.
Hospital care may include:
Fluids given intravenously (IV), or through your vein.
Monitoring of electrolyte imbalance.
Acetaminophen for fever.
Rest.
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Prevention
Can dehydration be prevented?
Yes, you can prevent dehydration by keeping track of how much fluid you drink. Drink water throughout the day, including at meals. Avoid soda, alcohol and caffeinated drinks. One way to make sure youâre properly hydrated is to check your p*e. If itâs clear, pale or straw-colored, itâs OK. If itâs darker than that, keep drinking.
To avoid dehydration, active people â people playing a sport or exercising â should drink at least 16 to 20 ounces (oz.) of fluids one to two hours before an outdoor activity. After that, you should consume six to 12 ounces of fluid every 10 to 15 minutes when youâre outside. When youâre finished with the activity, you should drink more. To replace what youâve lost, drink at least another 16 to 24 ounces.
How much water do I need to drink?
Exactly how much water you need depends on your weight, age, level of activity, the climate of your environment and other factors. People with diabetes, heart disease, cystic fibrosis and other conditions may need to be cautious. The amount of water you need can also depend on the climate and what clothes youâre wearing. Although the standard advice is eight glasses of water per day, talk to your healthcare provider to confirm the right amount for you.
Which beverages hydrate the body, and which dehydrate?
Some beverages are better than others at preventing dehydration. Water is all you need if youâre planning to be active in a low- or moderate-intensity activity, such as walking for only an hour or less. If you plan to exercise longer than that, or if you anticipate being out in the sun for more than a few hours, you may want to hydrate with some kind of sports drink. These replace not only fluid but also electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are lost through sweating. Too much or too little sodium and potassium in your body can cause trouble. Muscle cramping may be due to a deficiency of electrolytes.
Healthcare providers donât recommend beverages containing alcohol or caffeine for optimal hydration. These fluids tend to pull water from your body and promote dehydration. Fruit juice and fruit drinks may have too many carbohydrates and too little sodium, and they may upset your stomach.
How do I get myself and my loved ones to drink more water?
Carry a water bottle with you. Keep it filled.
Choose water instead of sugary drinks, including at meals.
Add flavor. A wedge of lime or lemon might make it tastier. You can also try some flavored drink mixes, but watch out for the sugar.
Eat foods that are high in water content. Many soups, fruits and vegetables meet this description.
If you donât like drinking a lot of water at once, try smaller doses spread out throughout the day.
What is the outlook (prognosis) for dehydration?
By drinking more fluids, you can typically treat any bout of mild hydration. More moderate to severe cases of dehydration may require hospitalization for treatment with IV fluids. Left untreated, severe dehydration can lead to serious complications, including electrolyte imbalances, organ failure and death.
How long does dehydration last?
If you resolve the issue that caused dehydration and you get the correct amount of fluids, mild to moderate dehydration should go away in less than a day. You should seek treatment for severe dehydration in a hospital. With appropriate treatment, dehydration should resolve within two to three days.
What can I drink for dehydration?
Always drink water immediately if you feel thirsty. Remember â if you feel thirsty, youâre already dehydrated. You may see the signs of dehydration improve in as little as five to 10 minutes.
Dehydration is a lack of sufficient water in your body. It can occur for many different reasons and it can be dangerous if left untreated. Remember â if you feel thirsty, youâre already dehydrated. Always drink water immediately if you feel thirsty. You may see the symptoms of dehydration improve in as little as five to 10 minutes. The amount of water needed on a daily basis depends on many factors, so itâs best to check in with your healthcare provider to determine exactly how much will keep you healthy.
