Dehydration is something that happens when a person uses or loses more fluids than they take in. This results in their body not having a sufficient amount of water or other fluids to perform its normal functions. It is possible for anyone to become dehydrated, but is it something especially dangerous for older adults as well as young children. It is common for the bodies of older people to naturally have a low volume of water. Dehydration most often happens with children when they experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, or both. It is possible for someone who is experiencing a minor illness, such as an infection in their bladder or lungs, to experience dehydration. Dehydration can quickly happen to anyone who doesn't take in enough fluids during hot weather. This is especially true when someone is vigorously exercising.
Signs of Dehydration
When someone doesn't have enough water in their body, they will experience certain things that indicate they are dehydrated.
- Fatigue – When someone has a mid-afternoon slump or is regularly tired, they could be experiencing dehydration. Without a sufficient amount of water, a person's blood pressure will drop. This will slow blood flow to the brain and their heart rate will increase. This will result in feeling exhausted.
- Muscle Cramping – When a person is dehydrated, their blood is more concentrated. This causes a decrease in the total volume of blood in their body. This could result in inadequate blood flow to the muscles and can cause muscle cramps.
- Constipation – A person's digestive system requires plenty of water to properly do its job. It needs fluid to easily move food through the intestines. This also keeps the intestines healthy. When someone is experiencing constipation, they may not have enough fluid to move waste out of their system.
- Headaches – Headaches are a common sign of dehydration. This is also a common trigger for migraines. People may also feel dizzy, lightheaded, and more.
Complications of Dehydration
There are serious medical complications that can result when a person is experiencing dehydration. Some of them include:
- Low Blood Volume Shock – This is also known as hypovolemic shock. It is a very serious condition. It can involve life-threatening complications. This condition happens when a person's blood pressure significantly drops. It results in a serious decrease in the amount of oxygen in an individual’s body.
- Heat Injury – When a person doesn't drink a sufficient amount of fluids when perspiring and exercising vigorously, they could experience a heat injury. It could result in heat exhaustion. A life-threatening condition such as heat stroke could also occur.
- Seizures – Sodium and potassium are types of electrolytes. They are designed to help carry electrical signals from one cell to another. Should a person's electrolytes be out of balance, the required electrical message becomes disrupted. This has caused people to experience involuntary muscle contractions. Some people have lost consciousness and more.
- Kidney and Urinary Issues – When someone has a repeated or prolonged period of dehydration, they can experience a variety of health issues. This includes kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and more. In extreme cases, a person could have kidney failure.
Avoiding and Treating Dehydration
One of the most effective ways a person can treat as well as avoid dehydration is by consuming a sufficient amount of fluids. This is especially essential during warm weather. People should start with having a minimum of 1.5 liters of fluids each day. An additional liter should be consumed if someone is engaged in strenuous activity or exercise. More should be consumed if they are doing this in the heat. In mild cases of dehydration, water is the first choice. There are also plenty of special drinks available in stores. They are designed to help a person replace their lost water as well as electrolytes. Should someone not be able to obtain a pre-mixed rehydration drink, they should not try to make one on their own. A person can replace their lost fluids naturally. This can be done with sips of fruit juice, water, broths, or soups as well as fruit mixed with water. A person can determine if they are experiencing dehydration by the color of their urine. If it is clear, a person is hydrated. If their urine is yellow, they probably need work on being hydrated.
Water is the most important thing a person needs for their body to properly function. Everyone's hydration requirements are different and based on various factors. Avoiding dehydration is essential for people of all ages. Staying hydrated is important for people to maintain good health, avoid sickness, and be active.