DEHYDRATION

A CONDITION THAT CAN OCCUR 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.
 WHAT IS DEHYDRATION? WHAT
CAUSES IT?
DEHYDRATION HAPPENS WHEN YOUR BODY
DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH WATER AS IT NEEDS.
WITHOUT ENOUGH, YOUR BODY CAN'T FUNCTION
PROPERLY. YOU CAN HAVE MILD, MODERATE, OR
SEVERE DEHYDRATION DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH
FLUID IS MISSING FROM YOUR BODY.
 CAUSES
IT’S NORMAL TO LOSE WATER FROM YOUR BODY EVERY DAY
BY SWEATING, BREATHING, PEEING, AND POOPING, AND THROUGH
TEARS AND SALIVA (SPIT). USUALLY YOU REPLACE THE LOST LIQUID BY
DRINKING FLUIDS AND EATING FOODS THAT CONTAIN WATER. IF YOU
LOSE TOO MUCH WATER OR DON’T DRINK AND EAT ENOUGH, YOU CAN
GET DEHYDRATED.
 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. 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. THE PROBLEM WORSENS IF
YOU HAVE A FEVER IN ADDITION TO
DIARRHEA AND VOMITING
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
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 SKULL

•LISTLESSNESS OR IRRITABILITY
 DEHYDRATION IN ADULTS HOME
REMEDIES
*SIP SMALL AMOUNTS OF WATER.
*DRINK CARBOHYDRATE/ELECTROLYTE-CONTAINING
DRINKS. ...
*SUCK ON POPSICLES MADE FROM JUICES AND SPORTS
DRINKS.
*SUCK ON ICE CHIPS.
*SIP THROUGH A STRAW (WORKS WELL FOR SOMEONE
WHO HAS HAD JAW SURGERY OR MOUTH SORES).