Dehydration Treatment Q&A

Through sweating, breathing, urinating, defecating, tears, and saliva, your body loses water constantly. If you don’t drink enough water to replenish these fluids, then you may experience dehydration, which results in an imbalance of salts, ions, etc. in your body.

Drinking too little water or other liquids can lead to dehydration in anyone, but young children and the elderly are more susceptible to experiencing it. The smaller volume of water in older adults’ bodies and diseases or medications that may increase the risk of dehydration contribute to dehydration.

Drinking fluids should suffice to replenish your fluids after mild or moderate dehydration. In addition to water, electrolyte solutions, fruit juices, and clear broths can be consumed. Avoid stomach irritation by taking small sips at a time and diluting juices with water. Diuretics such as coffee, tea, soda, and alcoholic beverages should be avoided because they remove water from the body.

Dehydrated children, especially those suffering from diarrhea or vomiting, should receive oral rehydration solutions (ORS), which can restore electrolyte balance and salt balance. At regular intervals, they should be given little sips or a teaspoon of fluid at a time, and they must be closely monitored to determine whether more fluid is needed.

In severe cases of dehydration, you may need intravenous fluids (IVs). Hospitalization may be necessary if you suffer from severe dehydration.

There are some common signs of dehydration. Signs of dehydration may vary depending on the nature and extent of the dehydration as well as on the individual’s age. However, symptoms experienced during severe dehydration are often similar to those experienced during mild to moderate dehydration; they just manifest as a more severe form. The five main signs of dehydration are feeling intense thirst, tiredness, lightheadedness or dizziness, dryness of the mouth, eyes, and lips, and urinating infrequently and in small quantities.

A mild case of dehydration can be remedied easily by drinking water or other liquids. Instead of drinking a sugary rehydration drink, add a pinch of Himalayan salt to your water to replace lost minerals. This can also be accomplished by eating soups and broths that are salty. Starting with small spoonfuls of fluid and increasing as you feel better will help you swallow or keep it down.

If the signs of dehydration persist, are unsated by attempts to rehydrate, or increase in severity patients should seek prompt medical attention. Dehydration can result in serious medical complications.

Mild to moderate dehydration can disappear within a day if the underlying problem is resolved and the right amount of fluid is consumed. It usually takes 2 to 3 days for severe dehydration to resolve with proper treatment in a hospital.

Those who work or exercise in hot weather should drink more fluids to prevent dehydration. Families should provide plenty of water to older members of the family when they are alone in a hot building or place. In the absence of strenuous exercise or a hot environment, people don’t need to force themselves to drink extra water.

Dehydration can lead to serious health complications, so it should never be ignored. Without proper hydration, heat injuries such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke may occur. When your blood pressure drops too low, you may experience kidney and urinary problems, seizures, and hypovolemic shock. Dehydration can cause life-threatening complications. There are also specific areas of the body that can be negatively affected by dehydration. Dehydration can affect the skin, kidneys, muscles, brain, and heart.

For patients experiencing dehydration in Oklahoma, Dr. Kevin Penwell (D.O.) and the team of health care providers at Immediate Care of Oklahoma offers urgent care. We serve patients from West Moore OK, Norman (HealthPlex) OK, Edmond OK, Yukon OK, I-240 & Sooner RD OK, Tecumseh OK, Norman (24th) OK, and Bethany OK.