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Dehydration: symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

The human body of an adult has approximately 65% water, which is why this element is its main component. Dehydration is the lack of fluids in the body, which occurs when more water is lost than is ingested, so the amount of fluid in the body is not enough.

Dehydration can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the percentage of body weight lost, and severe dehydration can be fatal. Babies, children, the elderly, and the sick are at higher risk for this condition, so they should pay more attention to fluid replacement. At FastlyHealwe, explain everything about dehydration: the symptoms and treatment of this condition.

You may also be interested in Heatstroke: symptoms and treatment.

Table of Contents

Symptoms of dehydration

When the body does not have enough water, it manifests it through signs. The main one faced with mild dehydration is increasingly intense thirst, which may be followed by a dry and sticky mouth sensation, infrequent urination, dark yellow urine, and headaches.

If dehydration increases, the following problems may appear:

  • Sunken eyes and lack of tears.
  • Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
  • Dizziness, vertigo, confusion, and fatigue.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Wrinkled and dry skin.
  • Absence of urine
  • Sunken fontanelles in babies.
  • Increased heart rate and respiratory rate.
  • Decreased blood pressure.
  • In more severe cases, delusions and unconsciousness.

It is considered that medical attention should be sought at the time of extreme thirst accompanied by lack of urine, dizziness, and confusion.

Dehydration treatment

The only way to treat a state of dehydration is to replace the fluids that are lacking in the body and the corresponding electrolytes, minerals present in body fluids. However, the treatment will be applied depending on the patient’s characteristics and the degree of dehydration in which they are.

In a mild situation, the best treatment is taking water in small sips or sucking on ice cubes, something that will provide progressive and refreshing hydration. There are also oral rehydration solutions for sale in pharmacies that contain both the water and the salts that will need to be replaced. It is especially recommended to take it in babies and dehydrated children and in cases of suffering conditions such as vomiting or diarrhea. A large amount of fluid is lost.

On the other hand, severe dehydration will require urgent medical assistance, during which the patient will be administered fluids and salts intravenously instead of orally.

The best remedy for this condition is, without a doubt, prevention. We must drink enough liquid every day and help ourselves with water-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Thirst should be our reference for ingesting fluids, but it is best not to wait to have it when it is scalding or we are exercising. In this way, we will also avoid the dreaded heat stroke. This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.

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