Dehydration (2024)

FAQs

Dehydration? ›

Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.

The fastest way to cure dehydration is to drink fluids, particularly those that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions. People unable to drink properly due to medical conditions may require IV hydration for faster results.

The best way to treat dehydration is to rehydrate the body by drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, diluted squash or diluted fruit juice. A sweet drink can help to replace lost sugar, and a salty snack can help to replace lost salt.

Dehydration can be serious and is not an easy illness to treat at home. If you have been vomiting or have had diarrhea for more than 24 hours and haven't been able to keep liquids down, you need to go to the emergency room in Harker Heights, TX, so that your condition can be evaluated by a medical professional.

Concussion, menopause, and hypothyroidism all have symptoms similar to being dehydrated. Here's how to tell them apart and when to seek an expert opinion. When you feel a headache (or fatigue or dizziness or mental fuzziness) come on, you may be quick to assume you're dehydrated.

If you are experiencing mild dehydration, the body can rehydrate in 45 minutes with around 600mL of water. For more severe dehydration, it can take longer and will usually require medical attention. The more dehydrated you are, the longer it will take for your body to recover.

You can quickly check for dehydration at home. Pinch the skin over the back of the hand, on the abdomen, or over the front of the chest under the collarbone. This will show skin turgor. Mild dehydration will cause the skin to be slightly slow in its return to normal.

Is it OK to sleep when you are dehydrated? ›

Dehydration can impact the sleep-wake cycle and overall duration of sleep. Monitor water intake, choose hydrating foods, and be mindful of factors that may increase the risk of dehydration. Avoid nighttime bathroom trips by having a small drink of water before bed.

Severe dehydration: Symptoms include dizziness, sunken eyes, fainting, rapid breathing, and a racing heart. Children may lose over 10% of their body weight. This type of dehydration requires immediate medical attention. You may be treated with IV fluids containing salt.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, soda, or sugar-sweetened beverages because these can dehydrate you even more. If you have kidney issues, the foods on this list may not be right for you, and a healthcare professional may need to monitor your electrolyte and nutrient intake closely.

If you resolve the issue that caused dehydration and you get the correct amount of fluids, mild to moderate dehydration should go away in less than a day. You should seek treatment for severe dehydration in a hospital. With appropriate treatment, dehydration should resolve within two to three days.

It's important to prioritize water as your main source of fluids, but it can be helpful to add in fruit juices, coconut water, electrolyte mixes, and more for hydrating alternatives.

Isotonic: This is the most common type of IV fluid. Isotonic IV fluids include normal saline, 5% dextrose solutions dissolved in water, and Lactated Ringer's solutions. These are used for dehydration caused by electrolyte imbalances as well as fluid loss from diarrhea and vomiting.