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Know when you are dehydrated !!! By Michael Blume,
MD, CCFA-- The human body is composed of more that 50 percent water. Drinking adequate amounts of water is essential for maintaining adequate blood volume and its flow to such vital organs as the brain and the kidneys. Also, it is important for maintaining optimal function in the cells of the body. Dehydration can be defined as a significant decrease in the total water content of the body. It occurs when the rate of water intake (mostly by mouth) is lower than the rate of losing water from your body (urine, skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract). When you lose a significant quantity of water, you begin to develop symptoms and signs of dehydration. Some of these are non-specific, such as dizziness upon sitting or standing up from a lying position. Why should you be worried about becoming dehydrated? The major reason is that it is important to avoid the complications of dehydration. When you become dehydrated, the volume of circulating blood decreases, and this in turn decreases the flow of blood to your vital organs. Not only is blood flow a major problem, but also as you become dehydrated, you lose water and two minerals (potassium and sodium), which are essential for optimal functioning of the body. If dehydration is mild, you might try to rehydrate yourself by taking Gatorade or a similar drink, slowly. In addition to water, Gatorade contains important electrolytes (sodium and potassium) that the body loses through vomiting and diarrhea. When must you seek medical attention for dehydration? All situations, which indicate concern about maintaining adequate hydration, are significant. These include, but are not limited to, profuse diarrhea, protracted vomiting (unable to keep down liquids), and a very high fever. Obviously, if you develop any of the signs of dehydration, you should be concerned. Urgent attention to the problem should involve not only treating the underlying causes, but also replacing the liquid and electrolyte losses with intravenous (IV) liquids, if adequate replacement by mouth is not feasible. While there are not clear cut guidelines as to when you should seek medical attention, if any of the above concerns exist, the best advice is to check with your doctor before complications develop. It is most important for persons with ostomies to consume adequate amounts of water and not develop dehydration. Editors note: Be aware of other indicators of dehydration; decrease urine output, dark color or odor to urine (not upon first rising in the morning), general weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, dry mouth (not caused by medication), sunken eyeballs, rapid pulse, rapid respiration’s, and lethargy.
GROA Editors Note: Three times (you’d think I would learn!), I have been admitted to ER, due to severe Migraine Headaches, which had caused me to not have any appetite to eat, therefore I had been dehydrating for days, and muscle cramps, (hands, feet, legs etc.,) were part of the symptoms of this type of dehydration. Staggering in another example.... ( I just thought it was a part of getting older...Grin!) also learned that when your sodium gets too low (140 is normal) mine was 118) you cannot have too much liquid, because you will lose it through urine output..... .so, know your body, listen to it and try to learn. It took me a year and a half to learn this......lc ( it’s called, dumb, dumb and dumber!) 43 |