Fact Checked
Overview Of Dehydration
- Dehydration is the unnecessary loss of fluids from the body. If the body loses more fluids than it actually replaces, this will cause dehydration.
- Usually, the depletion of fluids is indicated by thirstiness and is replaced by drinking.
- If the fluid lost is not substituted, dehydration occurs, and can result in kidney failure and might even be deadly.
- This serious form of dehydration is a medical crisis.
What Are The Causes Of dehydration
Some causes of dehydration consist of:
- Extreme sweating as a result of energetic workouts (particularly in warm weather) or not drinking sufficient liquids in warm weather;
- Nausea;
- Fever;
- Consuming large amounts of alcohol;
- Diabetic complications; and
- Certain medications.
What Are The Symptoms Of Dehydration
The symptoms of dehydration differ depending on the severity of the dehydration.
Slight to reasonable dehydration symptoms consist of:
- Thirstiness;
- Mouth becomes dry;
- A decrease in weight;
- A drop in the volume of urine passed, and the urine might seem murkier than normal;
- Faintness or unsteadiness (mainly when standing).
Serious dehydration symptoms consist of:
- Extreme thirstiness;
- Blood pressure is low;
- Fast heart rate;
- Irritability, sleepiness or misunderstanding.
Problems Expected From Dehydration
Problems of severe dehydration can consist of:
- Damage to the kidney;
- Fits or seizures; and
- Shock as a result of low blood pressure.
Treatment
Severe dehydration
- You should visit the emergency department of your local hospital if there are symptoms of dehydration.
- Your GP can discover the reason for the dehydration and treat it, and might administer arterial fluids (fluids provided through a drip inserted into a vein) if the dehydration is serious.
- Kids with serious dehydration are observed in hospital for rehydration and careful nursing is needed to monitor their condition.
How To Prevent Dehydration
- Dehydration can be avoided by consuming plenty of liquids, particularly if you are in a warm environment, partaking in an active exercise or if you have diarrhea.