Recognizing Dehydration Symptoms

Dehydration is simply a lack of enough water and electrolytes. Electrolytes are salts that the body uses in major cellular activity, especially within the muscles cells and blood cells. Because 70% of our body weight is made up of water, dehydration can lead to very serious illnesses and even death (especially in children who can die within a few days) if not remedied in time. When the output of water is more as compared to the input, it leads to dehydration. The loss of water can happen, while breathing, sweating or urinating. So that the loss of water is replaced, it is important that sufficient quantities of water is consumed all through the day.

Causes of Dehydration

Dehydration symptoms are caused by several things. Lack of water either due to not drinking enough, extremely hot weather or due to over-exercising that overheats the body. Another cause would be any of several digestive problems either due to defects, illness or reaction to certain surgeries on the stomach such as a gastric bypass.

Vomiting and or diarrhea are other important causes. The vomiting might be due to flu, food poisoning, over-eating, etc. Often vomiting leads to a huge loss of fluids from the body. There are chances that the person may not be able to tolerate liquids, which are necessary to replace the water loss from the body. At such times, medical intervention may be necessary.

Other than vomiting, diarrhea is among the common causes of dehydration. Like vomiting, it can also be caused due to particular food item not agreeing with the system. It can also be caused due to contaminated water or food consumption. With every visit to the washroom, it is necessary that the lost fluids in the body are replenished.

Exercising is another very important cause of dehydration, and it doesn't necessarily need to be outdoor sports, it can also be caused due to a gym class. In other words, any sport or exercise that causes one to sweat can cause dehydration. Along with working out, the hot weather and wrong kind of clothing can cause further dehydration.

In addition, drinking too much alcohol can cause dehydration; this is often the case with alcoholics. A main cause of dehydration in the elderly is due to some of the prescriptions they sometimes need to take. If necessary care needs to be taken to make sure that this is prevented.

Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration

Signs and symptoms in adults and teenagers are: dizziness, dark urine (orange-yellow colored and with especially strong odor), dry mouth, weakness, inability to urinate, and nausea and vomiting. Pitting edema (this occurs when the skin doesn't resume its previous shape when pinched and released) is also an additional symptom that occurs with dehydration in the elderly and if they are on prescriptions that might cause it then this needs to be checked periodically.

Dehydration symptoms are usually easy to determine, dry and sticky mouth, weakness, dry skin when it usually is oily (of course some people normally have dry skin), low blood pressure, headaches, dizziness are some signs and symptoms of dehydration. Decreased rate of urination, constipation, extreme thirst, lack of sweat and fever are also some of the symptoms of dehydration. A number of times, people fail to understand cramps in the muscles, is also as a result of dehydration. Heart palpitations need not necessarily always point to heart problems, they can also be due to scarcity of water and electrolytes in the body. Similarly, weakness also points to decreased levels of water and electrolytes.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration in children and infants are very important to recognize because they aren't always old enough to be able to tell you how they are feeling. Crying without tears, at least three hours without wet diapers, dry mouth and tongue, sunken eyes, abdomen, or cheeks, general fatigue or irritability, high fever, pitting edema.

Treatment of Dehydration

Prevention is better than cure. Hence, measures should be taken to maintain the levels of water and electrolytes in the body. Drinking small sips of water at regular intervals helps in preventing dehydration. Electrolyte drinks prove to be of help in preventing as well as treating dehydration. There are sports drinks, such as Gatorade, that should be made available before, during and after sporting events. Most of these can also be used during illness to prevent dehydration. In case a person is suffering from diarrhea and/or vomiting, he can be given a concoction made by mixing half teaspoon of water, one teaspoon of sugar and water at regular intervals. It will help in preventing dehydration and also prove to be of help in case of dehydration.

The best thing to do at this point is to seek emergency medical help or get them to a doctor as fast as possible. In some cases, rehydration can only be done by IV fluids and electrolytes. However, there is a recipe that was created by the WHO (World Health Organization) in the 1960s that can be given to prevent dehydration. This recipe can also be provided to those who are very ill and are vomiting and it usually can be kept down. The recipe can be altered according to ones taste. All the ingredients mentioned below have to be combined together to make the concoction.

1. Table Salt - ¾ teaspoon
2. Baking Powder - 1 teaspoon
3. Sugar - 4 tablespoons
4. Orange juice - 1 cup
5. Water - 1 quart/liter

In addition in the US there are many grocery stores that provide special drinks for infants and very small children to use when they have diarrhea and vomiting to prevent dehydration. Since, however, most of these brands differ in concentration and ingredients then a doctor should be referred to in order to select the correct brand.

Conclusion

Dehydration is a preventable condition, which can prove to be fatal in extreme situations. Care must be taken to prevent this at all times including during sporting activities and during illness. Special care must be taken to ensure that the elderly and young children do not get dehydrated.