Dehydrate

Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. With dehydration, more water is moving out of individual cells and then out of the body than the amount of water that is taken in through drinking.

Causes

Dehydration usually occurs when you fail to drink enough water to replace what is lost throughout the day. Your system literally dries out. 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:

• Diarrhea and 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. If you have vomiting along with diarrhea, you lose even more fluids and minerals.
• Fever. In general, the higher your fever, the more dehydrated you may become. If you have a fever in addition to diarrhea and vomiting, you lose even more fluids.
• Excessive sweating. You lose water when you sweat. If you do vigorous activity and don't replace fluids as you go along, you can become dehydrated. Hot, humid weather increases the amount you sweat and the amount of fluid you lose.
• 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.

Symptoms

Dehydration symptoms generally become noticeable after 2% of one's normal water volume has been lost. Initially, one experiences thirst and discomfort, possibly along with loss of appetite and dry skin. This can be followed by constipation. Athletes may suffer a loss of performance of up to 30%, and experience flushing, low endurance, rapid heart rates, elevated body temperatures, and rapid onset of fatigue.

Symptoms of mild dehydration include thirst, decreased urine volume, abnormally dark urine, unexplained tiredness, lack of energy, headache, dry mouth, dry tongue; dry, wrinkled or shriveled skin, especially on the abdomen, upper arms, and thighs; and dizziness or fainting.

In moderate to severe dehydration, there may be no urine output at all. Other symptoms in these states include lethargy or extreme sleepiness, seizures, sunken fontanel (soft spot) in infants, fainting, and sunken eyes.

Treatment

The treatment for minor dehydration, often considered the most effective, is drinking water and stopping fluid loss. Plain water restores only the volume of the blood plasma, inhibiting the thirst mechanism before solute levels can be replenished.

Solid foods can contribute to fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, a sick person's need for food is greatly reduced, making a liquid diet more practical. The simplest and safest such fluid used in hospitals is Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), which contains smaller amounts of sodium and potassium salts than earlier treatments, with added glucose.

Prevention

Preventing dehydration is crucial. In practical terms, this means encouraging people to drink plenty of water even when not thirsty, especially if they are involved in activities that cause rapid water loss from the body (intense exercise, hot weather).

See also

• Water-electrolyte imbalance
• Heat stroke
• Oral Rehydration Therapy

Dehydrate Resources
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