dehydration

Definition:
The lack of adequate body fluids for the body to carry on normal functions at an optimal level (by loss, inadequate intake, or a combination of both). Losses of only a few percent in an adult and up to 5% in infants are considered mild dehydration.

Causes:
Dehydration can be caused by excessive loss of water from the body as in:

• vomiting
• diarrhea (especially well recognized in cholera)
• excessive urine output (polyuria)
• sweating, excessive

• nausea
• stomatitis or pharyngitis
• acute illness with loss of appetite

• stomach flu with vomiting and diarrhea
• acute illness where the child refuses fluids and loses excessive fluid
• through sweating with fever

Prevention:
Parents should consider the possibility of dehydration developing any time their child is ill. If you believe that dehydration is developing, they should consult the health care provider before the child becomes moderately or severely dehydrated. A few simple measures may prevent the development of severe dehydration.

Always provide adequate fluids during an illness, and pay attention to both the intake and output of fluid. For infants and young children, specific solutions (such as Pedialyte) are available that provide the right amount of electrolytes to prevent derangements of serum chemistries.

Symptoms:

• excessive loss of fluid through vomiting or excessive, urine, stools or
sweating
• poor intake of fluids
• sunken eyes
• markedly sunken fontanelles in an infant
• dry or sticky mucus membranes in the mouth
• the skin may lack its normal elasticity and sag back into position slowly when pinched up into a fold (poor skin turgor)
• decreased or absent urine output (oliguria or anuria)
• decreased tears

In addition to the information above:

Most of our bodies will consume at least a liter of water daily, but others might need up to eight liters. That's at least four eight-ounce glasses, but our demand changes on a daily basis. Everyday the intake needed for basic survival may vary depending on diet and perspiration, and two-thirds of total body water output is accounted for with urination alone.

Thirst is the primary signal of dehydration, this is the bodies way of saying you're starting to run low on water. The condition of your skin is a good way to determine when dehydration progressed. Skin may feel dry, itchy, and non elastic; when pinched skin will not have normal bounce back. Face may become red and flushed, white spit will collect in the corners of the lips and mouth will be dry. Lips may be pale in color, or even, dried out and cracked. Somebody with any of these signs needs to be given a glass of water, they will have an insatiable thirst to be quenched. For some, this might also cure that headache that never seems to go away.^*

Loss of appetite and fatigue are couple more early signs of dehydration. Water is needed in digestion or the process will slow down to a dead stop without it. Water is also absorbed to soften the fiber in a person's stool. Regular bowel movements are a sign that your body is receiving adequate amounts of water. Water helps in the absorption of nutrients, and the prevention of nutrient loss during urination. A good rule - clear urine means the body is receiving adequate amounts of water, dark odorous urine is bad. Dehydration can lead to the loss of electrolytes, which can be hard to replenish with water alone.

By becoming severely dehydrated, your sodium levels along with the water will be lowered. Salt or sport drinks and the such will have sodium, pottesium, and suger. These are key in helping your cells absorb water again through osmosis.

Severe dehydration is different with each individual person and situation, but the most common symptoms are; weakness, muscle cramps or spasms (the shakes), lightheadedness, vision blackouts or visual snow, delirium and fainting due to Orthostatic hypotension, or a sudden drop in blood pressure. When about 10% of the bodies water is lost and the plasma levels in your blood are lowered, and thus the pressure. Prolonged dehydration can lead to death from kidney and heart failure, but there plenty of signs warning of possible dehydrated before becoming dehydrated to such a degree.

It's best to drink a lot of water prior to dehydration, because a ridiculous amount of of our bodies are just that, water! By drinking the right amounts of water you might just live a longer life, and feel better while doing so. I don't have any proof on this just yet, but I still looking though (I'm not really looking!). It is a vital substance for your body to stay alive though.


* Headaches are the sign of hypoanemia and hyperanemia (decreased or elevated sodium levels) as well as dehydration.

De`hy*dra"tion (?), n. Chem.

The act or process of freeing from water; also, the condition of a body from which the water has been removed.

© Webster 1913.