Dehydration

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is dehydration? Dehydration (dee-heye-DRAY-shen) is a condition that happens when the amount of water in the body is lower than normal. Normally, the body has the right amount of water inside and outside of the cells. Water and electrolytes (mineral salts) are usually in balance in the body. This balance is important to keep your body working properly. With dehydration, electrolyte levels may be increased or decreased. This may cause serious effects, such as your kidneys and other organs to not work properly.

What cause dehydration? Dehydration may be caused by not drinking enough water, losing too much fluid, or both. Any of the following may increase your chance of having dehydration:

• Advanced age with decreased ability to sense thirst or to concentrate urine.
  
  
• Being in the sun or heat for too long, or sweating a lot, such as when you exercise.
  
  
• Diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, heart problems, or infections.
  
  
• Medicines that cause you to lose water and salt, such as diuretics (water pills).
  
  
• Vomiting (throwing up), diarrhea, or fever that lasts a long time.

What are the signs and symptoms of dehydration? You may have any of the following:

• Dry eyes or mouth.
  
  
• Headache, dizziness, or confusion (cannot think clearly).
  
  
• Increased thirst.
  
  
• Irregular or fast breathing, fast or pounding heartbeat, and low blood pressure.
  
  
• Passing little or no urine, or constipation (dry, hard bowel movement).
  
  
• Sudden weight loss.
  
  
• Tiredness or body weakness.

How is dehydration diagnosed? Your caregiver will take a detailed health history from you. This includes information on other health conditions you have that may lead to dehydration. Caregivers may also ask about past surgeries, or the medicines that you use or have used. You may need any of the following:

• Physical exam: Your caregiver will do a complete check-up of your body to look for problems or signs of infection.
  
  
• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• BUN and creatinine: Caregivers will measure the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in your body. This will tell caregivers if too much water is being lost or retained in your body.
  
  
• Tilt table test: This test checks to see what happens to your heartbeat and your blood pressure when you change positions.
  
  
• Urinalysis: This test that looks at your urine to find out how your kidneys are working. Caregivers look for white blood cells, protein, sugar, blood, and bacteria that are not normally in urine. They may also check the amount of water in your body by checking the concentration of your urine.

How is dehydration treated? You may have any of the following:

• Oral rehydration therapy: This therapy replaces lost body fluids by having you drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration. You may also drink an oral rehydration solution (ORS). An ORS has the right amounts of water, salts, and sugar you need to replace body fluids.
  
  
• Intravenous therapy: You may receive fluid through a tube placed in your vein. Lost electrolytes (mineral salts) may also be included in the fluid.
  
  
• Hypodermoclysis: This is also called clysis. This treatment quickly gives your body a large amount of water. The water is given into the deepest layer of your skin, which helps regulate body temperature.
  
  
• Other treatments: Treating other conditions, which may have caused your dehydration, is also important. If you are using medicines that put you at risk of dehydration, they may have to be stopped. An electrolyte imbalance may also be corrected.

Where can I find more information? Contact the following for more information:

• American Academy of Family Physicians
  PO Box 11210
  Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210
  Phone: 1-913-906-6000
  Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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