With summer almost upon us, the risk of becoming dehydrated is significantly increased. Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t receive the water and other fluids necessary to carry out its normal functions. Water forms the basis for all body fluids, including blood and digestive juices; aids in the transportation and absorption of nutrients; and helps eliminate waste.
The average adult loses more than 10 cups of water everyday (nearly 2.5 liters), through sweating, breathing and eliminating waste. Electrolytes, which help maintain the balance of fluids in your body, are also lost in the process. Even when you are active, it is normally not difficult to replenish what you have lost through the foods and liquids that you consume. Dehydration occurs when you lose more water and salts than you replenish.
When you’re out in the scorching heat of the summer sun or at the gym working towards that bikini body, you are more likely to lose more fluids than you are taking in. Failing to consumer enough water during exercise or in hot weather are not the only ways that dehydration can occur. Severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever or excessive sweating can also lead to increased water loss. No one is immune to dehydration, but young children, the elderly and the chronically ill are at the highest risk.
Many of us have experienced mild cases of dehydration on more than one occasion. Mild dehydration is usually easy to recognize, especially in hot weather, and can be accompanied by weakness, dizziness and fatigue. Other indicators of mild dehydration include dry mouth, muscle weakness, headache, thirst and decreased urination. Mild to moderate dehydration can typically be remedied by increasing your fluid consumption.
Severe hydration, on the other hand, is a life-threatening matter that should not be taken lightly. Such cases require immediate medical attention. Signs of severe and dangerous dehydration are typically more extreme. Intense thirst, severely dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes, lack of sweating, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, fever and little to no urination (urine produced will be dark yellow or amber in color). Severe dehydration can also be accompanied by abnormal fussiness/sleepiness in infants and children; irritability/confusion in adults, sunken eyes, shriveled/dry skin lacking in elasticity (ability to “bounce back” when pinched), and sunken fontanels in infants (soft spots on the top of a baby’s head). In extremely serious cases of dehydration, delirium or unconsciousness may occur.
If you develop several of these symptoms, especially extreme thirst, failure to urinate for eight hours, shriveled skin, dizziness or confusion, you should seek immediate medical attention. Be especially cautious when dealing with children and elderly adults. Monitor them closely when they are ill and experiencing fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Severe dehydration should be taken seriously – get to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Your medical care provider will assess the degree of your dehydration, possibly through blood tests or urinalysis. If severe dehydration is not treated promptly and appropriately, it can lead to serious complications, such as heat injury, swelling of the brain, seizures, hypovolemic shock, kidney failure, coma and death.
The only way to effectively treat dehydration is to replenish lost fluids. Treatment procedures depend upon the age of the patient, the degree of dehydration and the suspected cause.
The following are general guidelines – you should consult your doctor on how to best treat dehydration if at all possible.
In Sick Children (diarrhea, vomiting, fever)
-Oral re-hydration solutions such as Pedialyte, which can be purchased at most drugstores.
-In an emergency situation where such a solution is not available, you can mix your own using 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 liter (about 1 quart) of safe drinking water. Measuring accurately is important, as incorrect amounts can cause the solution to be less effective or even harmful.
-Keep administering liquids slowly until your child’s urine becomes clear. If your child is vomiting, give small amounts of solution at frequent intervals to help insure that they keep it down.
-Avoid feeding your child salty broths, milk (especially boiled milk), sodas, fruit juices or gelatins.
In Sick Adults
-Drinking more water and avoiding caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea, which can temporarily intensify dehydration.
-Fruit juices and sodas should also be avoiding as they can result in more extreme cases of diarrhea.
In Athletes
-Drinking plenty of cool water is best.
-Sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade, which contain electrolytes and carbohydrates may also be helpful.
In Cases of Severe Dehydration
-Take them to a hospital emergency room or call an ambulance
-Medical professionals will inject fluids intravenously, which replenishes the body with water and essential nutrients much more quickly that by mouth.
Medical experts suggest that the color of your urine is a better indicator of dehydration than thirst, especially in young children and the elderly. Urine that is clear or light in color indicates that you’re sufficiently hydrated, while a dark yellow or amber color is a symptom of dehydration.
Information on dehydration signs and symptoms, causes, risk factors, screening and diagnosis, complications, treatment and prevention was obtained from www.mayoclinic.com
