What You Need To Know About Dehydration and IV Fluid Replacement
Being dehydrated is a condition most often associated with the heat of summer, and thought to be caused by a lack of fluids going into the body.
The reality is that this condition can be caused year round, with or without summer heat, and is simply an end result of not replacing the essential water and salt that we lose through sweating.
Anyone who participates in sports, regular exercise or any activity that is physical enough to make you sweat is at risk for dehydration and IV fluid replacement treatment.
Everyone should know the danger signs, as well as how to avoid this life-threatening condition at all costs.
Signs of Dehydration The mild form of dehydration can cause symptoms such as weakness, dizziness and fatigue.
This condition causes all of your body's fluids to begin to dry up because they are not being replenished quickly enough.
For the above symptoms to occur, two percent of your fluids have been used up, and beyond that level, the symptoms get progressively worse.
Next comes extreme thirst, and your mouth and nose become dry because your mucous membranes have begun to dry out.
Extreme levels of dehydration are characterized by a weak and rapid pulse and a feeling of dryness around the eyes.
Physically, your eyes will appear to be sunken, and your skin will be pallid and cool to the touch.
The need to urinate has completely disappeared by this point, and you will cease to sweat, as your body continues to use up whatever fluids it has left.
The only treatment available at this point is IV therapy, involving intravenous fluid filled with water, glycogen and electrolytes.
Dehydration and IV Fluid Replacement Therapy Getting treatment for this condition is essential, especially if it gets to serious levels.
Children are especially at risk, because their bodies do not contain as much fluids as an adult's body would.
The escalation from mild to serious levels also progresses much faster in children, so even if you are not completely sure that they are dehydrated, this is one situation where erring on the side of caution can be a godsend.
Once you arrive in the emergency room, the first treatment that you will receive is IV therapy.
Bags of fluid and electrolytes will be administered, replenishing what has already been lost by the body through sweating.
We lose water, salt and glycogen during physical activities in the heat, whether indoor or outside, and these essential fluids must be replaced as soon as possible to avoid muscles and other tissues from being affected.
This treatment will take some time, and may take more than one bag of IV fluids, depending on how severe the condition is.
Dehydration Prevention Preventing dehydration and IV fluid replacement is fairly easy to do, even while working out in a gym, just by making certain that you drink plenty of water or other fluids throughout.
While looked down upon in terms of dieting, the quickest way to replace fluids and prevent the glycogen from breaking down during exercise is to drink caffeinated drinks.
The caffeine will stimulate the muscles and prevents glycogen from breaking down, leaving it to be used as energy to keep the muscles healthy.
Water is the best method, but in a pinch caffeinated drinks or those specially prepared with added electrolytes are the next best.
For children who regularly participate in sports, water, followed by electrolyte drinks specially made for children during a break will work wonders.
Be sure that they eat sparingly and lightly, because heavy amounts of food on their stomachs when they are overheated could lead to vomiting, further draining their bodies of fluids.
The reality is that this condition can be caused year round, with or without summer heat, and is simply an end result of not replacing the essential water and salt that we lose through sweating.
Anyone who participates in sports, regular exercise or any activity that is physical enough to make you sweat is at risk for dehydration and IV fluid replacement treatment.
Everyone should know the danger signs, as well as how to avoid this life-threatening condition at all costs.
Signs of Dehydration The mild form of dehydration can cause symptoms such as weakness, dizziness and fatigue.
This condition causes all of your body's fluids to begin to dry up because they are not being replenished quickly enough.
For the above symptoms to occur, two percent of your fluids have been used up, and beyond that level, the symptoms get progressively worse.
Next comes extreme thirst, and your mouth and nose become dry because your mucous membranes have begun to dry out.
Extreme levels of dehydration are characterized by a weak and rapid pulse and a feeling of dryness around the eyes.
Physically, your eyes will appear to be sunken, and your skin will be pallid and cool to the touch.
The need to urinate has completely disappeared by this point, and you will cease to sweat, as your body continues to use up whatever fluids it has left.
The only treatment available at this point is IV therapy, involving intravenous fluid filled with water, glycogen and electrolytes.
Dehydration and IV Fluid Replacement Therapy Getting treatment for this condition is essential, especially if it gets to serious levels.
Children are especially at risk, because their bodies do not contain as much fluids as an adult's body would.
The escalation from mild to serious levels also progresses much faster in children, so even if you are not completely sure that they are dehydrated, this is one situation where erring on the side of caution can be a godsend.
Once you arrive in the emergency room, the first treatment that you will receive is IV therapy.
Bags of fluid and electrolytes will be administered, replenishing what has already been lost by the body through sweating.
We lose water, salt and glycogen during physical activities in the heat, whether indoor or outside, and these essential fluids must be replaced as soon as possible to avoid muscles and other tissues from being affected.
This treatment will take some time, and may take more than one bag of IV fluids, depending on how severe the condition is.
Dehydration Prevention Preventing dehydration and IV fluid replacement is fairly easy to do, even while working out in a gym, just by making certain that you drink plenty of water or other fluids throughout.
While looked down upon in terms of dieting, the quickest way to replace fluids and prevent the glycogen from breaking down during exercise is to drink caffeinated drinks.
The caffeine will stimulate the muscles and prevents glycogen from breaking down, leaving it to be used as energy to keep the muscles healthy.
Water is the best method, but in a pinch caffeinated drinks or those specially prepared with added electrolytes are the next best.
For children who regularly participate in sports, water, followed by electrolyte drinks specially made for children during a break will work wonders.
Be sure that they eat sparingly and lightly, because heavy amounts of food on their stomachs when they are overheated could lead to vomiting, further draining their bodies of fluids.
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