Dehydration: Symptoms, Causes, Prevention & Treatment

Do you have things to worry about dehydration, its symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment?

This question has become germane in view of the heatwave soaring in the summer in the United States of America and elsewhere.

Dehydration, checks have shown, occurs when your body does not have the level of water that it needs to function maximally.

This is challenge as water makes up two thirds of the body’s composition, considered in some situations as even a more critical need to the body than food.

Water, it has been found, lubricates important parts of the body like the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins, and keeps the skin healthy, according to the NHS Informs.

Here then are early signs of dehydration in the body:

-feeling thirsty and lightheaded

-a dry mouth

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-tiredness

-having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine

-passing urine less often than usual

Causes Of Dehydration?

Dehydration is usually caused by not drinking enough fluid to replace what we lose. The climate, the amount of physical exercise you are doing (particularly in hot weather) and your diet can contribute to dehydration.

You can also become dehydrated as a result of an illness, such as persistent vomiting and diarrhoea, or sweating from a fever.

Who Is At Risk From Dehydration?

Anyone can become dehydrated, but certain groups are particularly at risk. These include:

babies and infants – they have a low body weight and are sensitive to even small amounts of fluid loss

older people – they may be less aware that they are becoming dehydrated and need to keep drinking fluids

people with a long-term health condition – such as diabetes or alcoholism

athletes – they can lose a large amount of body fluid through sweat when exercising for long periods

What to do in the face of dehydration

If you’re dehydrated, drink plenty of fluids such as water, diluted squash or fruit juice. These are much more effective than large amounts of tea or coffee. Fizzy drinks may contain more sugar than you need and may be harder to take in large amounts.

If you’re finding it difficult to keep water down because you’re vomiting, try drinking small amounts more frequently.

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Infants and small children who are dehydrated shouldn’t be given large amounts of water alone as the main replacement fluid. This is because it can dilute the already low level of minerals in their body too much and lead to other problems.

Instead, they should be given diluted squash or a rehydration solution (available from pharmacies). You might find a teaspoon or syringe can be helpful for getting fluid into a young child.

If left untreated, severe dehydration can be serious and cause fits (seizures), brain damage and death.

Adapted from NHS Informs