What Are The Signs & Symptoms of Dehydration?

 Dehydration

Dehydration Overview: 

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don’t replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated. Anyone may become dehydrated, but the condition is especially dangerous for young children and older adults. Dehydration

The most common cause of dehydration in young children is severe diarrhea and vomiting. Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies and may have conditions or take medications that increase the risk of dehydration.

• This means that even minor illnesses, such as infections affecting the lungs or bladder, can result in dehydration in older adults.
• Dehydration also can occur in any age group if you don’t drink enough water during hot weather especially if you are exercising vigorously.
• You can usually reverse mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids, but severe dehydration needs immediate medical treatment.

2. Signs & Symptoms:

Thirst isn’t always a reliable early indicator of the body’s need for water. Many people, particularly older adults, don’t feel thirsty until they’re already dehydrated. That’s why it’s important to increase water intake during hot weather or when you’re ill.

The signs and symptoms of dehydration also may differ by age:

Infant or Young Child.

• Dry mouth and tongue.
• No tears when crying.
• No wet diapers for three hours.
• Sunken eyes, cheeks.
• Sunken soft spot on top of the skull.
• Listlessness or irritability.

Adult:

• Extreme thirst.
• Less frequent urination.
• Dark-colored urine.
• Fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Confusion.

Signs of severe dehydration:

• Not urinating, or very dark yellow or amber-colored urine.
• Dry, shriveled skin.
• Irritability or confusion.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Rapid breathing.
• Sunken eyes.
• Listlessness.
• Shock (not enough blood flow through the body).
• Unconsciousness or delirium.

Causes:

Sometimes dehydration occurs for simple reasons: You don’t drink enough because you’re sick or busy, or because you lack access to safe drinking water when you’re traveling, hiking or camping.

Other dehydration causes include:

1. Diarrhea, vomiting, Severe, acute diarrhea: that is, diarrhea that comes on suddenly and violently can cause a tremendous loss of water and electrolytes in a short amount of time.

2. Fever:  In general, the higher your fever, the more dehydrated you may become.

3. Excessive sweating: You lose water when you sweat. If you do a vigorous activity and don’t replace fluids as you go along, you can become dehydrated.

4. Increased urination: This may be due to undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes. Certain medications, such as diuretics and some blood pressure medications, also can lead to dehydration, generally because they cause you to urinate more.

Risk Factors:

Anyone can become dehydrated, but certain people are at greater risk:

1. Infants & Children: 

The most likely group to experience severe diarrhea and vomiting, infants and children are especially vulnerable to dehydration. Having a higher surface area to volume area, they also lose a higher proportion of their fluids from a high fever or burns.

2. Older Adults:

As you age, your body’s fluid reserve becomes smaller, your ability to conserve water is reduced and your thirst sense becomes less acute. These problems are compounded by chronic illnesses such as diabetes and dementia, and by the use of certain medications.

3. People With Chronic Illnesses:

Having uncontrolled or untreated diabetes puts you at high risk of dehydration. Kidney disease also increases your risk, as do medications that increase urination.

4. People Who Work or Exercise Outside:

When it’s hot and humid, your risk of dehydration and heat illness increases.

Diagnosis & Tests:

Your health care provider will look for these signs of dehydration:

• Low blood pressure.
• Blood pressure that drops when you stand up after lying down.
• White fingertips that do not return to a pink color after your provider presses the fingertip.
• Skin that is not as elastic as normal. When the provider pinches it into a fold, it may slowly sag back into place. Normally, skin springs back right away.
• Rapid heart rate.

Your provider may do lab tests such as: 

• Blood tests to check kidney function.
• Urine tests to see what may be causing dehydration.
• Other tests to see what may be causing dehydration (blood sugar test for diabetes).

When to Contact a Medical Professional:

• Call your family doctor if you or a loved one:
• Has had diarrhea for 24 hours or more.
• Is irritable or disoriented and much sleepier or less active than usual.
• Can’t keep down fluids.
• Has bloody or black stool.

Complications:

Untreated severe dehydration may cause:

• Death.
• Permanent brain damage.
• Seizures.
• Urinary and kidney problems.
• Heat injury.

Prevention:

To prevent dehydration:

• Drink plenty of fluids every day, even when you are well. Drink more when the weather is hot or you are exercising.
• If anyone in your family is ill, pay attention to how much they are able to drink. Pay close attention to children and older adults.
• Anyone with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids. DO NOT wait for signs of dehydration.
• If you think you or someone in your family may become dehydrated, call your provider. Do this before the person becomes dehydrated.

Treatment:

The only effective treatment for dehydration is to replace lost fluids and lost electrolytes. The best approach to dehydration treatment depends on age, the severity of dehydration and its cause.

• For infants and children who have become dehydrated from diarrhea, vomiting or fever, use an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte or Hydralyte.
• These solutions contain water and salts in specific proportions to replenish both fluids and electrolytes.
• Most adults with mild to moderate dehydration from diarrhea, vomiting or fever can improve their condition by drinking more water or other liquids.
• Diarrhea may be worsened by full-strength fruit juice and soft drinks.
• If you work or exercise outdoors during hot or humid weather, cool water is your best bet.
• Sports drinks containing electrolytes and a carbohydrate solution also may be helpful.

The Best Drinks Besides Water to Stay Hydrated and Fuel Your Muscles:

• Milk- skim or whole.
• Oral rehydration solution.
• Hot or iced tea.
• Hot or iced coffee.
• Juice.
• Beer.
• Sports drink.
• Sparkling water.
• Diet soda.

Healthy and Delicious Food to Avoid Dehydration:

1. Cucumber:

Cucumber rich in vitamin C and caffeic acid and it is also composed of liquid ingredients. It helps you to prevent irritation of your skin and to get rid of harmful side effects that you may otherwise suffer from if you consume less amount of water.

2. Watermelon:

Watermelon constitutes nearly ninety-two percent of water and it also contains an adequate amount of vitamin C. Plus, it contains a special type of antioxidant called lycopene that can reduce the risk of heart attack and it can also protect you from threats of other harmful diseases.

3. Yogurt:

If you wish to avoid dehydration by all possible means, it is advisable that you should eat yogurt on a regular basis. Yogurt contains 85 percent of water and it is also rich in essential minerals such as sodium, potassium and so on.

4. Butternut Squash:

This delicious vegetable contains more than eighty-five percent of water and it contains adequate amount of manganese, potassium as well as vitamin C. If you eat butternut squash on a daily basis, it is vital to remember that you can get an adequate amount of Vitamin A that proves to be effective for your eyes and it helps you to improve your health and fitness as a whole.

5. Papaya:

Papaya contains eighty-eight percent of water and it keeps you hydrated throughout the day. It is advisable that you should eat two or three slices of papaya per day either in your breakfast or during your lunchtime.

6. Strawberries:

They are a good source of essential vitamins such as Vitamin B, Vitamin C and they contain ninety-one percent of water or other liquid ingredients. You can either eat three or four raw strawberries on a daily basis or you can bake them thoroughly and then you can eat them along with other essential fruits.

7. Zucchini:

It contains nearly ninety-five percent of water and it contains a sufficient amount of potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate. If you eat this type of vegetable on a regular basis, there is a possibility that you will only receive less than twenty-five calories.

10. Eggplant:

It contains a high amount of water and it also has sufficient amount of fiber ingredients. It is advisable that you should not fry it deeply. The reason is that it has a soft texture that can absorb an adequate amount of oil that can affect your weight to a great extent.

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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment for any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

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