Dehydration in the young and the old

[skimo]

Dehydration in the young and the old.

With the summer heat upon us we are all at greater risk of developing dehydration, and in particular, the young and the old. The average person loses between two and three liters of water a day through your breath, sweat, and urine. Excessive sweating from the hot summer heat can cause this amount to increase dramatically. Pay attention to your fluid loss and take special care to replenish it as it is being lost.

What is dehydration?

To put it very simply, dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. There are many causes of dehydration, such as vomiting or diarrhea, but during the summer months, it is important to remember to increase fluids to make up for the additional fluid loss from sweating due to the summer heat.

Signs and symptoms

Dry mucous membranes; mouth / tongue dry, sticky and pasty (*no tears when crying)

*Infants: sunken fontanel’s (soft spot)
*Decreased urine output
Dark (concentrated) urine
*Lethargy (inactivity, esp. in infants)
Fatigue / Weakness
Thirst
Loss of appetite
Dry skin
*Rapid heart rate ---see below for average heart rates

* If these items are present, contact a doctor immediately or call 911, especially if they are present in the infants, the elderly, or someone with a preexisting health condition / illness.

Average resting (while awake) heart rates:

Newborn: 100 to 180 bpms (beats per minute)
1 week to 3 months: 100 to 220 bpm
2 years to 10 years: 70 to 110 bpm
10 years to adult: 55 to 90 bpm

Treatment and prevention

Drinking fluids, especially water, is usually sufficient for mild dehydration. When a person becomes dehydrated they have also lost electrolytes so it is important to replenish these along with the fluids. Gatorade and pediatric formulas like Pedialite will provide electrolyte replenishment.

Moderate to severe dehydration requires hospitalization and intravenous fluids is usually the course of treatment.

Special considerations with these medications:

Lasix/ Furosemide is a medication prescribed as a diuretic for patients with heart conditions. Digoxin/ Digitalis is often prescribed in conjunction with Lasix. People who are taking these medications must be very careful to avoid becoming dehydrated during the summer months. Lasix, as a diuretic, causes people to take extra trips to the bathroom. As a result, it is not uncommon for some people to attempt to limit their fluid intake so as to avoid these frequent trips to the bathroom. This can become problematic during the summer months. If a person on Digoxin becomes dehydrated, they run the risk of Digoxin / digitalis toxicity and this does requires medical treatment immediately.

Signs of Digoxin / digitalis toxicity include: Weakness, dizziness, seeing ‘halos’ around lights, seeing color changes with a yellowish tint, nausea, vomiting or other abdominal distress, irregular heartbeat.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only. A licensed physician should always be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Thanks for the post! My 16 yo DD recently fainted at work due to dehydration. She hit her head on the counter and was out cold. Luckily the person she was taking order from was a Dr. Her work called 911 and the took her to the hospital. Her work did not bother to call us and let us know she was at the hospital, instead her dad called her at work to wish her a Happy Birthday.

What a day. Drink up on that water folks!