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Dehydration in Adults
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Dehydration (dee-hi-DRAY-shun)--excessive loss of water
and salt from the body--can become very dangerous if you allow
it to go uncorrected.
Causes
Prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or
high fever can deplete the body's fluids. Other causes include
staying in the sun or heat for too long and sweating a lot. An
overdose of medicines that cause you to lose water and salt,
such as diuretics (di-u-RET-ics) or ""water pills,'' also can
cause dehydration.
Signs/Symptoms
Typical symptoms include a dry
tongue and mouth, great thirst, and less urination. Other
symptoms include sunken eyes, wrinkled skin, dizziness,
confusion, and a fast heartbeat and breathing.
Care
You may need to have your blood
tested. You also may need a stay in the hospital, where you can
be given IV fluids. If you think you are dehydrated, you should
weigh yourself daily and write down the number. Also keep track
of how much and how often you are vomiting and having diarrhea.
Get lots of rest.
Risks
Without treatment, your blood
pressure could fall too low, leading to shock and even
death.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
It is important to drink plenty of liquids to replace
the water your body has lost. Drink a small amount of fluid
every 30 to 60 minutes. Large amounts may upset your
stomach.
-
Drink clear liquids for the first 24
hours.
-
You can buy a special ready-made liquid called a
rehydration or electrolyte solution at a drug or grocery
store. It has the exact amounts of water, salts, and
sugar your body needs to replace the lost water and
salts. Follow the directions on the
label.
-
You also can make your own fluid replacement
mixture. Be sure to measure carefully. Add 1 level
teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 level teaspoon of salt to 1
pint (2 measuring cups) of water.
-
Do not use liquids such as apple juice, soft
drinks, tea, chicken broth, or sport drinks. They have
the wrong amounts of water, salts, and
sugar.
-
If you have been vomiting and can't keep liquids
down, suck on ice chips or flavored ice until the throwing
up stops. You may drink more liquids as your vomiting
lessens.
-
Keep drinking liquids until your urine is pale
yellow. You may need to drink 8 to 12 glasses (soda-can
size) of liquids a day to bring your water level back to
normal.
-
If you are not vomiting, you may slowly return to
your normal diet over the next 2 to 3
days.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
You are having trouble keeping liquids
down.
-
You develop a high temperature.
-
You do not feel better after drinking liquids for
several hours.
Seek Care Immediately If...
-
You pass very little urine or none at all after a few
hours of treatment.
-
You feel dizzy or faint.
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You have a fast heartbeat.
-
Your skin looks wrinkled or your mouth feels very
dry.
-
You lose several pounds in a few
days.
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
What to Expect While You're
There
You may encounter the following
procedures and equipment during your stay.
-
IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine
or liquids. It will be used to get fluid back into your
system. When not in use, it will be
capped.
-
Strict Intake/Output: Care givers will carefully
watch how much liquid you are getting and how much you are
urinating.
-
Daily Weight: Since severe fluid loss shows up in
your weight, you will be weighed
daily.
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Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature,
blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and
respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used
to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is
taken by wrapping a cuff around your
arm.
-
Pulse Oximeter: You may be hooked up to a pulse
oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on your ear, finger,
or toe and is connected to a machine. It measures the
oxygen in your blood.
-
Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or
from the bend in your elbow. Tests will be done on the
blood.
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