Dehydration

You can become dehydrated if you lose too much fluid, do not drink enough water or fluids, or both.

Your body may lose a lot of fluid from:

• Sweating too much, for example, from exercising in hot weather
• Fever
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Urinating too much (uncontrolled diabetes or some medications, like diuretics, can cause you to urinate a lot)

You might not drink enough fluids because:

• You do not feel like eating or drinking because you are sick
• You are nauseated
• You have a sore throat or mouth sores

Older adults and people with certain diseases, such as diabetes, are also at higher risk for dehydration.

Signs of mild to moderate dehydration:

• Thirst
• Dry or sticky mouth
• Not urinating much
• Darker yellow urine
• Dry, cool skin
• Headache
• Muscle cramps

Signs of severe dehydration:

• Not urinating, or very dark yellow or amber-colored urine
• Dry, shriveled skin
• Irritability or confusion
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid breathing
• Sunken eyes
• Listlessness
• Shock (not enough blood flow through the body)
• Unconsciousness or delirium

Your health care provider will look for these signs of dehydration:

• Low blood pressure
• Blood pressure that drops when you stand up after lying down
• White finger tips that do not return to a pink color after your doctor presses the fingertip
• Skin that is not as elastic as normal. When the provider pinches it into a fold, it may slowly sag back into place. Normally, skin springs back right away.
• Rapid heart rate

Your doctor may do lab tests:

• Blood tests to check kidney function
• Urine tests to see what may be causing dehydration
• Other tests to see what may be causing dehydration (blood sugar test for diabetes)

To treat dehydration:

• Try sipping water or sucking on ice cubes.
• Try drinking water or sports drinks that contain electrolytes.
• Do not take salt tablets. They can cause serious complications.
• Ask your provider what you should eat if you have diarrhea.

For more severe dehydration or heat emergency, you may need to stay in a hospital and receive fluid through a vein (IV). The provider will also treat the cause of the dehydration.

Dehydration caused by a stomach virus should get better on its own after a few days.

If you notice signs of dehydration and treat it quickly, you should recover completely.

Untreated severe dehydration may cause:

• Death
• Permanent brain damage
• Seizures

You should call 911 if:

• The person loses consciousness at any time.
• There is any other change in the person's alertness (for example, confusion or seizures).
• The person has a fever over 102°F (38.8°C).
• You notice symptoms of heatstroke (such as rapid pulse or rapid breathing).
• The person's condition does not improve or gets worse despite treatment.

To prevent dehydration:

• Drink plenty of fluids every day, even when you are well. Drink more when the weather is hot or you are exercising.
• If anyone in your family is ill, pay attention to how much they are able to drink. Pay close attention to children and older adults.
• Anyone with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids. DO NOT wait for signs of dehydration.
• If you think you or someone in your family may become dehydrated, call your provider. Do this before the person becomes dehydrated.