|
Are You Dehydrated?
1/15
What’s It Mean?
It’s when you lose more
water than you take in. That makes it harder for your body to do some basic
jobs, like keep your temperature steady and clear out waste. You lose water in
your sweat, tears, and every time you go to the bathroom. Even breathing takes
a little out of you.
1/15
How Lack of Water Affects You
More than half your body
weight comes from water. So if your levels are off, it can show up in a
surprising number of ways. Mild dehydration can make you feel tired, give you a
headache, and affect your mood and focus. And when you push yourself hard at the
gym, all that sweating actually lowers how much blood you have for a bit.
1/15
Is Thirst a Sign I’m Dehydrated?
Yes, but no need to
panic. By the time you get the urge to quench your thirst, you’re already a
little dehydrated. As long as you pay attention and snag a drink when your body
tells you to, it’s not a problem. For older adults, the lag might be a little longer.
So it can help to make a habit of drinking water.
1/15
Who’s It Likely to Happen To?
You can lose over a
gallon of water a day if you have diarrhea and throw up. Babies and kids are
more likely than adults to get dehydrated because they're smaller. Older adults
need to be on the lookout because your sense of thirst gets duller with age.
Kidney disease and some health conditions can make your body get parched.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women need to drink more than usual.
1/15
Symptoms in Young Children
Babies and little kids
can’t always tell you what’s going on with their bodies. Look for a dry tongue,
no tears when crying, no wet diapers for 3 hours, and more fussiness than
normal. When it’s more severe, their mouths will be dry and sticky, and their
eyes and cheeks may look sunken. They also may breathe fast and have a fast or
weak pulse.
1/15
Symptoms in Older Kids and Adults
You might be thirsty,
and your mouth might feel dry or sticky. You won’t pee very often -- under 4
times a day. When you do go, there may not be much pee, and it’ll be dark or
have a strong smell. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded, and you may pass out.
As it gets worse, your thirst cranks up. Your breathing and heart rate may be
faster than normal. You can overheat, and you might feel confused or cranky.
1/15
Should I Drink 8 Cups a Day?
This old rule has zero
science behind it. But it’s fine as a rough guide. The amount you need to drink
depends on how active you are, where you live, and your overall health. If
you’re not sure you’re drinking enough, check the color of your pee. Clear or
pale yellow means you’re all set. Darker means you need to drink up.
1/15
What About Electrolytes?
They’re just basic
salts, like potassium, sodium, and calcium. But they have a hand in everything
from how your nerves work to building healthy bone. Your electrolyte levels are
closely tied to how much water is in your body. That means that if you’ve lost
a lot of fluid, you’ll feel thirstier and pee less as your body tries to get
the electrolytes back in balance.
1/15
Do I Need a Sports Drink?
Almost never. These
blends of water, salts, and sugars are made for high-level athletes, like
marathon runners. Most of us don’t need anything more than water during
exercise. You’ll only have to work harder to burn off the extra calories from
sport drinks. If you do intense training for more than an hour, then they can
make sense.
1/15
Oral Rehydration Solution
When dehydration is mild
or even moderate, you can often kick it with plenty of water. But if you have
severe diarrhea or are throwing up, an oral rehydration solution might help.
It’s more often kids who need one. The special mix of salts and sugars is a closer
match to what the body needs. You can buy it over the counter at a drugstore.
1/15
When to Call Your Doctor
When you see symptoms of
severe dehydration, call your doctor right away. It can hit kids quickly, so
it’s best to check in sooner rather than later. Signs include:
·
Diarrhea for more than 24 hours
·
Feeling dizzy, confused, or faint
·
Can’t keep fluids down
·
No energy
·
Fast heartbeat or breathing
·
Black or bloody poop
1/15
Emergency Treatment
When your water levels
get too low, you can’t tackle dehydration on your own. You’ll need to be
treated at a hospital. The idea is the same -- to get fluids in you and to get
your body back in balance. Doctors will give you the treatment through a vein with
an IV, because it gets water and salts into your body much faster than you’d be
able to drink them.
1/15
Can I Drink Too Much?
You can, but it’s not
very likely. When you drink more than your kidneys can handle -- and that’s a
lot -- you end up with a condition called hyponatremia. This is when your
sodium levels get very low, causing your cells to swell up. It can be deadly,
but rare. It mostly only happens to people who compete in intense long-distance
races.
1/15
Tips for Staying Hydrated
If you just can’t
remember to drink enough water, look for ways to build it into your day. Make
water your go-to drink. Tip a glass at and between each meal. Or set a reminder
on your phone to have a glass every hour. Some people find that carrying a
water bottle does the trick. And if you’re hankering for a snack, have water
instead. Sometimes, our bodies confuse thirst for hunger.
This tool does not provide medical advice
মন্তব্যসমূহ
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন