Dehydration happens when your body uses or loses more fluid than it takes in, and as a result, it does not have enough water or other fluids to handle its usual duties. Dehydration can be prevented by drinking plenty of water and other fluids. You will become dehydrated if you do not restore the fluids that you have lost.
Dehydration can strike anyone at any time, but it poses a particularly grave threat to young children and people in their last years.
When it comes to young children, excessive diarrhea and vomiting are the most typical causes that can lead to dehydration. The average volume of water found in the bodies of people over the age of 65 is naturally reduced, and many older folks also have diseases or take pills that enhance their likelihood of being dehydrated.
This means that even fairly insignificant diseases, such as infections that affect the lungs or bladder, can lead to dehydration in people who are 65 years of age or older.
Anyone of any age can become dehydrated if they do not consume enough water when outside in hot weather, particularly if they are engaging in strenuous physical activity.
Drinking extra water will usually restore mild to moderate dehydration, but severe dehydration requires prompt treatment from a medical professional.
It is natural for your body to lose water every day through normal bodily functions such as breathing, perspiring, urinating, and defecating, in addition to tears and drool (spit). Consuming beverages and foods that are high in water content are the two most common ways to replenish lost fluids. It is possible to become dehydrated if you lose a significant amount of water or if you do not consume enough liquids or food.
When you go through any of the following, you can lose more water than usual:
- A fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- An excessive amount of sweating
- A lot of urination
- Diabetes and medicines such as diuretics can make you pee more often.
Five most common causes of dehydration
There can be many causes of dehydration, the most common ones of which will be discussed in more detail below.
- Illness: It is common for a disease, such as gastroenteritis, to lead to dehydration because of the excessive fluid loss that occurs as a result of repeated bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. Diarrhea hinders the large intestine from absorbing water from dietary particles, which is normal for the large intestine to do. Dehydration occurs as a result of excessive water loss through urination and sweating. It is more difficult to replenish the water that you lose through vomiting since vomiting causes you to lose fluids as well, making it more difficult to drink water.
- Sweating: If you have a fever, engage in strenuous physical activity, or perform strenuous manual labor while it is hot outside, you may become dehydrated as a result of excessive sweating. In conditions like these, it is essential to take frequent drinks to replenish the fluids that have been lost. Sweating can cause you to lose a large amount of fluid even if it is not particularly warm outside. Children and adolescents are more susceptible to dehydration because they are more likely to dismiss the warning signs of the condition or to lack the knowledge necessary to diagnose and manage it.
- Alcohol: Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol can also lead to the development of dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which simply means that it increases the frequency of urination. The headache that comes with a hangover is your body’s way of telling you that it needs more water. When you have been drinking alcohol, you should make it a point to drink a lot of water as well.
- Diabetes: If you have diabetes, you run the risk of being dehydrated because you have high amounts of glucose in your system. Dehydration can be prevented by drinking enough water. In diabetic patients, the kidneys work more to break down the glucose using fluids in the body, this leads to more urine being produced.
- Frequent urination: Alcohol and drugs such as diuretics, antihistamines, blood pressure, and other illnesses’ prescription medicines, and antipsychotics can cause frequent urination, although uncontrolled diabetes is the most common cause of this condition.
Symptoms
The sensation of thirst is not always an accurate early indicator of the body’s requirement for water. A lot of people, especially older adults, don’t realize they’re thirsty until it’s too late and they’ve already become dehydrated. Because of this, it is essential to drink more water when you are sick or when there is a high ambient temperature.
Age can also play a role in how the signs and symptoms of dehydration manifest.
Signs of dehydration in a very young infant or toddler
- Tongue and mouth devoid of moisture
- No tears were shed when weeping
- Three hours or more without wet diapers
- Sunken eyes, cheeks
- A sunken soft area on top of the skull
- a state of irritation or listlessness
Signs of dehydration in adults
- Urinating less frequently
- Experiencing extreme thirst
- Urine with a dark color
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Confusion
Prevention
The most effective treatment for the causes of dehydration is the prevention of the condition. The majority of people should be able to avoid being dehydrated by maintaining a diet that is rich in foods and beverages that are high in water content, such as fruits and vegetables.
Because the elderly and the young are at the greatest risk of being dehydrated, extra care should be taken to ensure that they consume an adequate amount of fluids. It should come as no surprise that drinking water is necessary not only to slake your thirst but also to maintain your body’s water balance. On the other hand, considering the number of toxins that may be found in regular drinking water, you should seriously consider purchasing a water purifier of the highest quality. Invest in a good water purifier or water filter to avoid the causes of dehydration. Livpure water purifiers are considered among the best water purifiers and the best RO in India. Getting a Livpure RO can provide your family with clean and safe drinking water to boost their health and well-being.