From: deputydog23x@gmail.com   
      
   WebMD    
      
      
   DEHYDRATION    
      
      
      
   Dehydration in Adults    
      
   Dehydration in Adults Overview    
   Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly   
   water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. With dehydration, more water is   
   moving out of our cells and bodies than what we take in through drinking.    
      
   We lose water every day in the form of water vapor in the breath we exhale and   
   in our excreted sweat, urine, and stool. Along with the water, small amounts   
   of salts are also lost.    
      
   When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or   
   dehydrated. Severe dehydration can lead to death.    
      
   Simple Quiz: Learn about dehydration    
   Causes of Dehydration in Adults    
   Many conditions may cause rapid and continued fluid losses and lead to   
   dehydration:    
      
   Fever, heat exposure, and too much exercise    
   Vomiting, diarrhea, and increased urination due to infection    
   Diseases such as diabetes    
   The inability to seek appropriate water and food (as in the case of a disabled   
   person)    
   An impaired ability to drink (for instance, someone in a coma or on a   
   respirator)    
   No access to safe drinking water    
   Significant injuries to skin, such as burns or mouth sores, or severe skin   
   diseases or infections (water is lost through the damaged skin)    
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   Symptoms of Dehydration in Adults    
   The signs and symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe and include:    
      
   Increased thirst    
   Dry mouth and swollen tongue    
   Weakness    
   Dizziness    
   Palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding)    
   Confusion    
   Sluggishness fainting    
   Fainting    
   Inability to sweat    
   Decreased urine output    
   Urine color may indicate dehydration. If urine is concentrated and deeply   
   yellow or amber, you may be dehydrated.    
      
   When to Seek Medical Care    
   Call your doctor if the dehydrated person experiences any of the following:    
      
   Increased or constant vomiting for more than a day    
   Fever over 101°F    
   Diarrhea for more than 2 days    
   Weight loss    
   Decreased urine production    
   Confusion    
   Weakness    
   Simple Quiz: Learn about hydration    
   Take the person to the hospital's emergency department if these situations   
   occur:    
      
   Fever higher than 103°F    
   Confusion    
   Sluggishness (lethargy)    
   Headache    
   Seizures    
   Difficulty breathing    
   Chest or abdominal pains    
   Fainting    
   No urine in the last 12 hours    
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   Exams and Tests    
   The doctor may perform a variety of simple tests at the examination or send   
   blood or urine samples to the laboratory. Through tests and examination, the   
   doctor will try to identify the underlying cause or causes that led to the   
   dehydration.    
      
   Vital signs    
   Fever, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and faster breathing   
   are signs of potential dehydration and other illnesses.    
   Taking the pulse and blood pressure while the person is lying down and then   
   after standing up for 1 minute can help determine the degree of dehydration.   
   Normally, when you have been lying down and then stand up, there is a small   
   drop in blood pressure    
   for a few seconds. The heart rate speeds up, and blood pressure goes back to   
   normal. However, when there is not enough fluid in the blood because of   
   dehydration and the heart rate speeds up, not enough blood is getting to the   
   brain. The brain senses this    
   condition, and the heart beats faster. If you are dehydrated, you feel dizzy   
   and faint after standing up.    
   Urinalysis    
   The color and clarity of urine, the urine specific gravity (the mass of urine   
   is compared with that of equal amounts of distilled water), and the presence   
   of ketones (carbon compounds that signify dehydration) in the urine may all   
   help to indicate the    
   degree of dehydration.    
   Increased glucose in the urine may lead to a diagnosis of diabetes or indicate   
   loss of diabetic control and a cause for the dehydration.    
   Excessive protein in the urine may signal kidney problems.    
   Signs of infections or other diseases, such as liver disease, may be found by   
   urine testing.    
   Blood chemistries    
   The amount of salts (sodium and potassium) and sugar, as well as indicators of   
   kidney function (BUN and creatinine), may be important to evaluate the degree   
   of dehydration and possible causes.    
   A complete blood count (CBC) may be ordered if the doctor thinks an underlying   
   infection is causing the dehydration. Other blood tests, such as liver   
   function tests, may be indicated to find causes of the symptoms.    
   Dehydration in Adults Treatment - Self-Care at Home    
   Try to get people who are dehydrated (even those who have been vomiting) to   
   take in fluids in the following ways:    
      
   Sipping small amounts of water    
   Drinking carbohydrate/electrolyte-containing drinks. Good choices are sports   
   drinks such as Gatorade or prepared replacement solutions (Pedialyte is one   
   example)    
   Sucking on popsicles made from juices and sports drinks    
   Sucking on ice chips    
   Sipping through a straw (works well for someone who has had jaw surgery or   
   mouth sores)    
   Try to cool the person, if there has been heat exposure or if the person has   
   an elevated temperature, in the following ways:    
      
   Remove any excess clothing and loosen other clothing.    
   Air-conditioned areas are best for helping return body temperatures to normal   
   and break the heat exposure cycle.    
   If air conditioning is not available, increase cooling by evaporation by   
   placing the person near fans or in the shade, if outside. Place a wet towel   
   around the person.    
   If available, use a spray bottle or misters to spray lukewarm water on exposed   
   skin surfaces to help with cooling by evaporation.    
   Avoid exposing skin to excessive cold, such as ice packs or ice water. This   
   can cause the blood vessels in the skin to constrict and will decrease rather   
   than increase heat loss. Exposure to excessive cold can also cause shivering,   
   which will increase    
   body temperature --the opposite effect you're trying to achieve.    
   Keep Your Fitness Cool: Exercising in the Heat    
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   Medical Treatment    
   Treatment in the emergency department focuses first on restoring blood volume   
   and then body fluids, while determining the cause of the dehydration.    
      
   If your core body temperature is greater than 104 °F, doctors will cool the   
   entire body. They may promote cooling by evaporation with mists and fans or   
   cooling blankets and baths.    
      
   Fluid replacement    
   If there is no nausea and vomiting, fluid replacement is begun. You are asked   
   to drink electrolyte/carbohydrate-containing fluids along with water.    
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)