Dehydration – Degidratatsiya
Dehydration
What is dehydration?
Dehydration occurs as a result of excessive loss of body fluids.
Causes of dehydration
For normal operation, the body requires a certain amount of water and other elements, called electrolytes. Consumption of liquid and food make up for their loss. Fluid, usually, excreted from the body through sweat, urine, bowel movements and breathing. When the loss of large amounts of liquid, without her make up, dehydration may occur.
Risk factors for dehydration
Factors, that may increase the risk of dehydration include:
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Hyperthermia;
- Exposure to heat and sun;
- Excessive exercise;
- Taking certain medicines, including diuretics (diuretics) and laxatives;
- Inadequate fluid intake due to certain conditions, such as mobility, mental disorders or problems with memory, reduced ability to feel thirst;
- An imbalance in the body fluids, cause certain diseases, such as diabetes, Pulmonary Disease, kidney disease, burns.
Other risk factors include:
- Age: up to two years or 65 and older;
- Living in a nursing home;
- Participation in sports.
Dehydration symptoms – Signs of dehydration
Symptoms vary depending on the degree of dehydration. They may include:
- Dry mouth;
- Limited tear production;
- Thirst;
- Weakness;
- Decreased urination;
- Concentrated urine (eg, urine is dark, strong odor);
- Morshtinistaya skin;
- Sunken eyes;
- Dry, chapped lips;
- Dizziness or a feeling of weakness;
- Drowsiness;
- Nausea;
- Irritability;
- Confusion;
- Fever;
- Low blood pressure;
- Increased heart rate;
- Rapid breathing;
- Weight loss;
- Signs of dehydration in a child – zapavshie rodnichki (soft spots in the skull).
Dehydration can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Diagnosis of dehydration
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination, comprising measurement of vital functions. To provide information to physicians, you need to keep a diary, which record:
- Daily weight;
- Number of times, when you vomit or when there was an attack of diarrhea;
- Food and fluid intake;
- Diuresis.
Tests may include:
- Analysis of urine – check the concentration of the urine;
- Blood tests – availabilty of body fluids and the chemical composition.
Dehydration – treatment
Therapy aims to rehydrate the body, replace lost electrolytes, and prevent complications. If you have an underlying condition, leading to dehydration, you need to take his medication.
Treatments include dehydration:
Fluid with dehydration
If you have been minimal or mild dehydration, doctor, perhaps, appoint fluid intake in the form of a drink. Maybe, you'll have to:
- Eat throughout the day, or more, small sips special oral rehydration solution. It is necessary to avoid drinking other beverages, such as:
- Beverages with alcohol or caffeine, coffee, tea, soft drinks;
- Carbonated drinks, sweetened beverages, fruit juices and plain water.
When severe dehydration is used intravenous fluids (It is given through a vein in the arm), allows you to quickly replace the lost fluid.
Drugs in obezvozhivanii
Your doctor may recommend taking the medicine, such as:
- Antiemetics – for the treatment of severe vomiting;
- Funds from indigestion – for severe diarrhea or abdominal pain of spastic;
- Antibiotics – for the treatment of acute diarrhea, caused by certain bacterial infections.
If you are diagnosed with dehydration, Follow your doctor's instructions.
Preventing dehydration
To prevent dehydration:
- Drink plenty of fluids, even if you are busy or sick;
- Regularly drink fluids during exercise, or on the street on a hot day.
