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Dehydration
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Dehydration is a medical condition in which a body contains insufficient amounts of water for normal functioning. Dehydration can be very dangerous for people, and there are many different causes for dehydration. Prolonged activity or work, especially in a hot or humid environment, is a major cause for dehydration. This is an obvious risk for athletes. A long sports contest can result in major dehydration if athletes do not take the proper precautions to remain hydrated. Other causes for dehydration include vomiting, shock, diarrhea, and blood loss.
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Dehydration is a dangerous symptom, one that can become life threatening if not alleviated. It can happen as a result of vomiting, diarrhea, infection, high fever, bleeding, even something as simple as just not drinking enough fluids. Third spacing, a process that happens when fluid from the body's systems leaks out into tissues or body cavities, can ... cause dehydration. When you become dehydrated, you may need to seek medical help for intravenous fluids. The danger of dehydration is greatest when you are alone, as you may not recognize how much of a problem you have. You can live for a long time without eating, but you can function only a short time without fluids.
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Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. Dehydration can be caused by losing too much fluid, not drinking enough water or fluids, or both. Vomiting and diarrhea are common causes. Infants and children are more susceptible to dehydration than adults because of their smaller body weights and higher turnover of water and electrolytes. The elderly and those with illnesses are ... at higher risk. Dehydration is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on how much of the body's fluid is lost or not replenished.
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Dehydration occurs when loss of fluid from the body, via feces, urine, sweat and water vapor in exhaled air, exceeds fluid intake from food and water. As dehydration occurs, fluid is lost from the blood, which becomes more concentrated. When the fluid lost from the blood is not replaced, the volume of blood in the body decreases. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, and removes waste products. If there is less blood, it is unable to circulate to all of the tissues as frequently as normal. Consequently, the heart beats faster in an attempt to circulate the blood around the body more quickly, attempting to compensate for the decreased blood volume.
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Dehydration causes the sodium level in the bloodstream to increase (see When the Body Has Too Much Antidiuretic Hormone). However, the common causes of dehydration (such as profuse sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea) usually result in a loss of electrolytes (especially sodium and potassium). Thus, dehydration is often accompanied by a deficiency of electrolytes—sodium is lost, but because even more water is lost, the level of sodium rises. When electrolytes in the bloodstream are ... deficient, water moves less readily from inside the cells to the bloodstream. As a result, the amount of water in the bloodstream is not replenished as it would normally be. Blood pressure can fall, causing light-headedness or faintness, particularly upon standing (a condition called orthostatic hypotension).
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Dehydration is best avoided by drinking plenty of water. The greater the amount of water lost through perspiration, the more water must be consumed to replace it and avoid dehydration. Since the body cannot tolerate large deficits or excesses in total body water, consumption of water must be roughly concurrent with the loss (in other words, if one is perspiring, one should ... be drinking water frequently). Drinking water beyond the needs of the body usually entails little risk, since the kidneys will efficiently remove any excess water through the urine with a large margin of safety. However, overhydration can become a problem when the kidneys are not functioning properly or when more than 2 gallons of water is being consumed daily by an individual.
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Dehydration