Understanding Dehydration: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Dehydration refers to shortage of water in your body. It's caused by not drinking enough fluid or by losing more fluid than you take in, whether through sweat, tears, diarrhea, urine, or vomiting. Dehydration is best treated by drinking enough water.

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Signs & symptoms

Symptoms of dehydration include: headache, confusion. dizziness, dry mouth, dark-colored urine, fast heartbeat, and constipation.

Diagnosis

Dehydration can be self diagnosed by merely feel thirsty. In addition, laboratory tests that can diagnose dehydration include: low concentration of urine sodium, elevated creatinine or blood urea nitrogen.

Treatment

Dehydration is best treated by merely drinking water. Sometimes the body is also low in electrolytes, especially sodium, and the treatment should be consuming water with salts. You may see the symptoms improve in a short period of time.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital