Dehydration
What Is Dehydration?
Dehydration occurs when the body has too little water. It usually results from not drinking enough water, particularly when working or exercising outside in the heat.
Small amounts of water are depleted from our bodies every time we exhale or sweat, as well as through the urine and stool. When we don’t drink enough water to replace what is lost, we become dehydrated. Dehydration in its severest form can be deadly.
Symptoms
- Extreme thirst, especially accompanied by a dry mouth or a swollen tongue
- Exhaustion
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Faintness
- Mental confusion
- Heart palpitations
- Dark, discolored urine
- Decreased urine output
Treatment
Left untreated, dehydration can become severe. For immediate dehydration treatment, you should take the following precautions:
- Stop all activity
- Rest in a cool, shaded place, or go indoors where it is cool
- Drink water and/or sports drinks to rehydrate
- Bathe your wrists, ankles, and neck in cool water
Seek Emergency Help
You should see your Amelia Express Care or other provider immediately for treatment if you experience any of the following dehydration symptoms:
- Increased or constant vomiting for more than a day
- A fever above 101 F.
- Diarrhea lasting longer than two days
- Sudden weight loss
- Decreased urine production
- Excessive or lasting confusion
- Weakness
