Dehydration occurs when the body suffers from a lack of fluids. A lot of people associate this condition with summer and the heat but the truth is that a person can get dehydrated at any time of the year. Those who exercise a lot are at a higher risk of getting dehydrated due to excessive perspiration.
In cases of severe dehydration, it is necessary for a person to get IV fluids in order to regain the amount of lost fluid. That is why it is so important to be able to recognize the signs so know what to do when it occurs.
How To Spot Dehydration
Dizziness and weakness are two of the most common signs of dehydration. A lot of people suffer from mild dizziness and it is not something to get very worried about. If you lose 2% of the amount of fluids from your body, the body is dehydrated and there will be mild symptoms. In usual cases, a drink of water will help to restore the fluids in your body and you will be fine in a few minutes. However, if your body loses more than 2% of its fluids, the symptoms start to get worse. The nose and mouth start to get dry and then the person may have a rapid pulse and drying around the eyes in extreme cases. The eyes may also start to look sunken and the skin may become pale.
Dehydration often occurs faster in children since the amount of fluids in their body is lower than that of adults so it is necessary to look out for the beginning signs in children in order to get them treated as quickly as possible.
How To Treat Dehydration
The most effective way to treat dehydration is to get treated with IV Fluids. Any person who starts showing severe signs should be rushed to a doctor immediately so that they can be put on these fluids as quickly as possible. IV fluids contain a mixture of glycogen, salt and water that is administered to the patient in order to bring the fluid level back to normal in the body. In some cases, more than one bag of IV fluid may have to be administered to the patient.
In order to prevent dehydration and take care of mild symptoms before they get worse, you should ensure that you drink water at regular intervals right through the year. Those who play a sport or exercise a lot should take water breaks and have drinks that contain electrolytes after exercising.