Dehydration: Causes, Symptoms, Health Dangers And Treatment
Dehydration, characterised by the excessive loss of water from the body, is a serious condition which if not treated can have fatal health consequences, especially in infants, yound children and elderly people. If swallowing is difficult due to extreme illness, or when people cannot respond to a sense of thirst because of age, illness of lack of consciousness, the resulting failure to replenish water loss will lead to rapid dehydration. A dehydrated condition is closely linked to disturbances in sodium or potassium levels (electrolytes that help regulate fluid levels), thus treatment of dehydration typically requires both the replacement of water lost from the body and the restoration of normal concentrations of electrolytes within the body fluid.
Causes Of Dehydration
Dehydration is caused by water loss or by inadequate water intake. The commonest cause is failure to drink enough water, although severe perspiration is a significant cause in hot climates or bouts of hot weather. Fluid loss caused by episodes of diarrhea (especially in children and old people) can also cause rapid dehydration.
In addition, loss of sodium (salt) from the body typically leads to a loss of water. Therefore, abnormally low levels of salt in body fluids may cause a person to become dehydrated. Kidney (renal) failure and Addison's disease (adrenal cortical insufficiency) are two conditions that may - if untreated - lead to sodium depletion and dehydration.
Symptoms And Health Consequences Of Dehydration
The early signs and health effects of dehydration vary according to whether the patient is dehydrating due to water loss with some accompanying loss of sodium, or because of a loss of salt with some water loss.
Loss Of Water
The main symptom of dehydration caused by water depletion is thirst, which can become extreme. Other typical symptoms include: reduced urination, as well as a slight increase in the amount of urea in the blood.
Loss Of Salt Greater Than Loss Of Water
Typical symptoms of dehydration caused by sodium depletion include: extreme lassitude, fainting when standing up, excessive urea in the blood, a decrease in the fluid content of the blood, and a fall in blood pressure. The dehydrated patient may also experience vomiting and cramps. Urination is not commonly affected to begin with, and thirst is usually absent.
Symptoms Of Worsening Dehydration
As the patient becomes more dehydrated - irrespective of the cause - symptoms include: weight loss (2-3 pounds per day), dryness of the mouth, decreased production of saliva, impaired swallowing, shrinkage of tissue, dry/wrinkled skin, headache, raised pulse, shrunken eyes, and fever. As dehydration and salt loss progresses, blood output from the heart decreases, while sweating may cease entirely. Body temperature then rises precipitously. If urination falls too low in response to the dehydrated condition of the body, the kidney becomes unable to excrete toxic waste products. The combined effect of high temperature, reduced blood output and kidney malfunction is irreversible shock and death. Typically this occurs in previously healthy adults after a water loss of about 12-15 liters (3-3.75 gallons), but may occur much more quickly in the very young or very old.
Treatment For Dehydration
As explained above, when you lose enough water to be seriously dehydrated, you also become deficient in electrolytes - the mineral compounds (like salt) needed to maintain a healthy fluid balance and regulate body temperature. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following dietary response to serious dehydration caused (eg) by diarrhea. It is designed as a fast replenishment of fluid and electolyte levels.
Anti-Dehydration Treatment Method
Take two glasses. Into the first, put 8 ounces of orange juice, a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of sweetener such as honey or corn syrup. Into the second, put 8 ounces of bottled or distilled water, and one quarter teaspoon of baking soda. Sip from each glass in turn until they are empty.
Treatment Of Dehydration In Children And Elderly
Where dehydration is rapid, or where it occurs in infants, young children or elderly patients, no time should be lost in treating the condition, which may require urgent medical attention. Call your doctor or emergency healthline.
Dehydration treatment herbally
Feeling thirsty, dizziness, weak, tired, dry mouth, irritated, nauseate, etc are the symptoms of dehydration. Sudden and quick loss of water from the body leads to above mentioned symptoms of dehydration. Dehydration causes immense damage to our body internally as well as externally. It ruins the health of our skin and hair. You may experience dry, rough, and fragile hair and even the skin loses its moisture. Lack of water in the body causes difficulty in breathing. An individual starts facing problems such as low blood pressure, rise in body temperature, and increased palpitation. That’s when you need dehydration treatment.
Almost everyone is at risk for dehydration during summer seasons. The harmful radiations emitted by sun ruins good health by causing sunburns, heatstroke, and skin cancer. We need to take extra care during this season. People having low immune system will have a greater need for dehydration treatment. They sweep away greater proportion of water from the body and thus cause numerous ailments. Our body contains 70% of water, which helps in proper functioning of all organs in the body. Water is very much essential to supply nutrients, blood, and oxygen to all organs of the body. In fact, our brain contains major proportion of water, thus we need to keep cells and nerves of the brain hydrated and moist. Lack of water causes brain to function improperly. Thus, it is necessary to prevent our bodies from dehydration.
Indian scriptures of traditional medicines comprise numerous herbs that are useful to curb down dehydration. These herbs are easily available in our kitchen cabinets, thus we can easily prepare home remedies to stay away from dehydration. We are providing you with some simple home remedies to conjure up dehydration treatment for some of us.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. While you stay outdoors, always carry bottle of water to quench your thirst. Consume at least ten glass of water for entire day. Summer is the season, where water gets easily contaminated. Thus, drink boiled and filtered water.
- Squeeze fresh lemon to a glass of water, sweeten it with honey. Drink this limewater every morning to flush out all toxic products from the body. This drink should be consumed emptied stomach.
- Add three to four drops of peppermint to glass of water. Drink this mixture for immediate relief from dehydration.
- Combine one teaspoonful of mint juice with one teaspoonful of honey and half teaspoonful of ginger juice to alleviate the burning sensation due to heat.
- Sip good amount of buttermilk with half teaspoonful of ginger powder. Drink this mixture after your meals to avoid indigestion and stomach cramps.
- Chamomile is natural pain healer, thus drink chamomile tea two times in day to cure inflammation and sunburns.
- Boil some basil leaves in water. Add two teaspoonful of honey and dash of black pepper to your drink. Filter this and drink this mixture at least three times in day. It is natural sunscreen that protects your from harmful sunrays. You can carry this drink while outdoors or consume it before leaving home.
- Yogurt is the best food for dehydration, thus consume at least one bowl of yogurt in day. You may even add some chopped basil leaves with pinch of black pepper for yummy taste. Yogurt can be added to bowl of fresh vegetable salad or fruit salad.
- Mix ripe banana with two teaspoonful of honey. Consume this mixture to beat excessive weakness due to dehydration. You may eat this mixture two times in a day.
- Consume lot of fresh green leafy vegetables and bright colored fruits. Fruits packed with vitamin C are highly beneficial in the treatment of dehydration. Fruits such as oranges, cantaloupes, kiwi, strawberry, raspberry, avocado, and grapefruit are excellent source of vitamin C that are good antioxidants- helps in removing waste products from the body and strengthens immune system. Club all these fruits and relish on delicious fruits salad.
Individuals who are prone to dehydration should avoid junk and greasy foods. Cut down the intake of caffeinated and carbonated drinks. Never drink alcohol during dehydration. Summers are meant to enjoy, just be bit of careful and prevent fromdehydration with above mentioned herbal treatments.
Adults and children age 12 and older
If you become mildly to moderately dehydrated while working outside or exercising:
- Stop your activity and rest.
- Get out of direct sunlight and lie down in a cool spot, such as in the shade or an air-conditioned area.
- Prop up your feet.
- Take off any extra clothes.
- Drink a rehydration drink, water, juice, or sports drink to replace fluids and minerals. Drink 2qt of cool liquids over the next 2 to 4 hours. You should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day to replace lost fluids. You can make an inexpensive rehydration drink at home. But do not give this homemade drink to children younger than 12. Measure all ingredients precisely. Small variations can make the drink less effective or even harmful. Mix the following:
- 1 quart (950 ml) water
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) table salt
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 g) salt substitute (potassium-based), such as Lite Salt or Morton Salt Substitute
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) sugar
Rest and take it easy for 24 hours, and continue to drink a lot of fluids. Although you will probably start feeling better within just a few hours, it may take as long as a day and a half to completely replace the fluid that you lost.
Children ages 1 through 11
- Make sure your child is drinking often. Frequent, small amounts work best.
- For children with dehydration, an , half-strength orange juice, or plain water (if the child is eating food) may be used to replace lost fluids.
- Allow your child to drink as much fluid as he or she wants. Encourage your child to or suck on Popsicles. Children between the ages of 4 and 10 should drink at least 6 to 10 glasses of liquids to replace lost fluids.
- Cereal mixed with milk or water may also be used to replace lost fluids.
Newborns and babies younger than 1 year of age
Don't wait until develops to replace lost fluids. Offer fluids to your baby often.
- If you breast-feed your baby, nurse him or her more often.
- If you use a bottle to feed your baby, the amount of fluid you use in the formula should be enough to replace lost fluids. Check with your child's doctor if you think you need to feed your baby more often.
- Use an if mild or moderate dehydration develops. The amount of ORS your baby needs depends on his or her weight and how dehydrated he or she is. You can give the ORS in a dropper, spoon, or bottle.
- If your baby has started eating cereal, you may replace lost fluids with cereal. You also may feed your baby strained bananas and mashed potatoes if your child has had these foods before.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate the symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:
- More serious develops.
- Decreased alertness develops.
- You become dizzy, lightheaded, or feel like you might faint when you rise from lying to sitting, or from sitting to standing.
- Decreased urination develops.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Water is a vital constituent of the body, and sufficient hydration is necessary to allow the bodily functions to operate in a correct manner. More than 70% of our body’s weight is been taken by water. Dehydration occurs when the quantities of water taken in is lesser than the amounts of water that are leaving the body.
start from carving for water that is severe thirst and then progress to more dangerous manifestations as the need for the body of water becomes more intense and dire. For an adult, the initial symptoms and signs of mild dehydration starts appearing when 2% of the total fluid in the body is lost. These dehydration symptoms exhibit thirst followed by loss of appetite and. Dark colored urine may also signify dehydration of the body. A person suffering from dehydration also experiences and weakness, skin flushing, head rushes and even chills.
As soon as the body looses 10% of its fluid the symptom of dehydration becomes intense and more fatal. Severe dehydration symptoms include vomiting, muscle spasms, shriveledand racing pulse. It may also lead to painful urination, and chest pain and. Severe dehydration may also lead to difficulty in and even unconsciousness.
Dehydration symptoms differ from person to person. This is because the complex systems of the body for each person differ. When these systems of body experience loss of fluid these, they are disturbed and exhibit different responses. The mentioned dehydration symptoms above are the ones most commonly shared by most bodies, but there may be several unexpected or unusual dehydration symptoms depending on each particular person.
Manifestation of different symptoms also depends on the age. Dehydration signs will not same in a child as it is in an elderly, a teenager or an adult.
Dehydration symptoms in children are manifested by initially a dry mouth and tongue. They do not shed tears when they cry while experiencing dehydration. Their abdomen, eyes and cheeks appear sunken. They may also experience high fever with no wettill 3 hours. In case of severe dehydration their skin is also affected. It does not flatten when you pinch and release it. Dehydration is very dangerous for children who can even die from it within a matter of days. Child specialists suggest a rehydration solution like Pedialyte, Ceralyte and Infalyte that are specially intended for children.
In the elderly, dehydration symptoms are a quite different. The main cause for dehydration in the elderly is the medicines they take. One of the most noticeable symptoms of dehydration in the elderly is a poor elasticity of skin. When their skin is pinched, instead of coming back to its normal shape it holds the w ay pinched.
Although water is an extremely important element of maintain water levels of the body and preventing dehydration but it does not have electrolytes. Fluids containing sodium like broth, soups and soft fruits, fruit juices and vegetables which are rich in potassium help to maintain and restore electrolyte levels. Moreover sports drinks like Gatorade also help in maintaining and restoring the electrolyte levelsLearn more about dehydration symptoms, please visit Maire Comptwa’s site: dehydration headache
No comments:
Post a Comment