Dehydration occurs when the body does not have the required amount of fluids to do necessary bodily functions. This normally happens when a person fails to replenish liquids that are lost throughout the day and especially after a strenuous workout. A person can become dehydrated if they experience prolonged periods of vomiting, diarrhea, sweating or fever. Water in the body can easily be lost faster than it might be replaced during a severely hot day. Dr. R. Eichner of the University of Oklahoma states that: "The number one trigger of day time fatigue and poor performance is not lack of sleep or stress but Dehydration". Symptoms of Dehydration Before dehydration gets to a dangerous point, there are early symptoms that are mild in form. A person can feel constipated, dizzy, sleepy and thirsty. Their skin and mouth will be dry and they will have very few tears. They may experience headaches and the color of their urine will be very yellow to a dark color. Severe symptoms that need immediate medical attention or an urgent visit to an emergency room are when an individual seems confused or delirious. They are irritable and have sunken eyes. Their breath and heartbeat will be fast and they may even lose consciousness. They will have extreme dry mouth and skin. They will have a lack of tears, urine and sweat. Their blood pressure will be low and their skin will have lost its elasticity. How much water should a person drink each day? Water makes up over 2/3rd of the healthy human body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins and keeps skin healthy. There are different recommendation for water intake each day, though different people need different amounts of water to stay hydrated. Mostly, the doctors recommend drinking 6-8 (8-ounce glass) of water per person each day, which is a reasonable target. Most of the healthy people stay fit & dehydrated by drinking water & other fluids each time they feel thirsty. Some people are at higher risk of dehydration that is not able to get enough fluids during the course of the day. If you are worry about not drinking enough water, then check your urine. If your urine is consistently colorless or light yellow, you are most likely staying well hydrated. Apart from water you can also have a homemade juice to avoid this condition. I am sharing the recipe here, which works best and is a lot cheaper. 1. Take 1 liter (or quart) of water. 2. ½ ml (1/8 tsp) of salt. 3. 75 ml (1/3 cup) of sugar 4. 100ml (1/2 cup) of orange juice 5. Add a crystal packet of your favorite flavor (optional). If it has sugar already added to it, than skip adding sugar. 6. Blend a banana (if required) to help balance the potassium. 7. 100ml of cranberry juice (optional). The acid in cranberry juice helps the kidneys to work better. It is very important for people to keep hydrated by drinking fluids periodically throughout the day. Drinking water is a great way to stay hydrated, but sport drinks are very beneficial as they help to replenish lost salt, electrolytes and other necessary minerals. Complications The complications that can arise from severe dehydration are serious and can lead to serious and irreversible damage to the body. If the body lacks the fluid to produce important bodily functions, a person can develop heat exhaustion, heat stroke, swelling of the brain, seizures, low blood volume, kidney failure, coma or death. If severe dehydration symptoms suspected, then consult a good board certified physician who will conduct a complete check-up and recommend a treatment plan to cure dehydration that hydrate and restore the proper functioning of the body. Meredith Clark is the Director of Marketing (713) 889-2866 at the AOK Emergency Room. The emergency room is capable of handling mild to severe dehydration which include urgent to emergency care. 9180 Katy Freeway, Suite 165, Houston, TX -77055 Tel: (281) 542-3998
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