Dehydration

Being dehydrated can lead to some serious medical conditions. It is important to always remember to drink enough water throughout the day to avoid this, especially on hot days. At WellCare Urgent Care center in Grand Rapids, we can treat dehydration to have you feeling healthy again.

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water. Water helps your body to function properly. Depending on how much fluid is missing, dehydration can vary in severity from mild to severe. Throughout the day your body can lose water through sweating, breathing, urination, tears, and saliva. It is then replaced by the water that is drunk and with foods that contain water. If it doesn’t balance out, then you can get dehydrated.  If you are sick or suffering from heat exhaustion after being in the sun for too long, you can become dehydrated quicker than normal.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Mild or moderate dehydration can be characterized by these symptoms:

• Dry or Sticky Mouth
• Thirst
• Dark Yellow Pee
• Dry, Cool Skin
• Headache
• Muscle Cramps
• Not Peeing Very Much

Signs of severe dehydration:

• Dry Skin
• Feeling Dizzy
• Not Peeing
• Having Dark Yellow pee
• Rapid Heartbeat
• Rapid Breathing
• Sunken Eyes
• Fainting
• Low Blood Pressure
• Sleepiness, Lack of Energy, Confusion or Irritability

Treatments for Dehydration

The best way to treat dehydration is to replenish lost fluids. Drinking fluids like water, ice, sports drinks, or clear broths can often successfully treat mild dehydration. If you have severe dehydration, this may need intravenous fluids (IV fluids) to help the body quickly rehydrate and prevent serious complications.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dehydration

Can you drink too much water? Yes, you can drink too much water and when this happens, your kidneys cannot get rid of the water fast enough. The sodium content of the blood becomes diluted. The condition is called hyponatremia. What (type of) drinks hydrate you best when you're feeling dehydrated? Water and beverages that contain little to no fat and sugar are the best types of drinks to have when you're dehydrated. How much liquid do you need to consume to stay hydrated? To stay hydrated, men need about 15.5 cups of fluids a day and women need about 11.5 cups of fluids per day. Although, the exact amount of fluid you need will depend on your weight and age. The fluid intake can include water, other beverages, and food. Can you feel thirsty but not be dehydrated? Yes! Feeling thirsty is normal and is not necessarily an indication of dehydration. But if you're constantly thirsty, it can be a sign of dehydration. How long does it take to rehydrate after being dehydrated? It typically takes about two hours to rehydrate after being dehydrated but if you are severely dehydrated, it can take much longer than that. How is dehydration treated? How dehydration is treated depends on the severity of the dehydration. Mild to moderate dehydration can be treated by drinking water and electrolyte drinks and eating foods with high water content, like watermelon and cucumbers. Who is at risk for dehydration? Those at risk of dehydration include infants and children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. People who live in hot climates and who struggle with gastrointestinal issues are also at risk. Are there certain fluids that are better for rehydration? Oral rehydration solutions, which contain a balance of water, sugars, potassium, and sodium, are specifically created to help with dehydration. Electrolyte drinks and water are also beneficial for individuals experiencing dehydration. How can I prevent dehydration? To prevent dehydration, you’ll want to drink plenty of fluids, up your intake of fluids in hot weather or when performing strenuous activities, avoid caffeine and alcohol, eat foods high in water content, and drink when you feel thirsty. What’s the difference between mild and severe dehydration? The main difference between mild and severe dehydration is the severity of the symptoms and how much fluid the body has lost. The main symptoms of mild dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, fatigue, and dark urine. Symptoms of severe dehydration include extreme thirst, very dark urine, dry skin, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and irritability. See All

Come into WellCare

If you are experiencing dehydration, seeking treatment is imperative. Dehydration can be life-threatening if it becomes too severe. Come into WellCare Urgent Care center to get treatment started. We provide our patients from the Grand Rapids area with the best care in a timely manner so you can get back to living a healthy life quicker. Schedule an appointment online for immediate care at our Cascade and Leonard locations.