Dehydration is defined as a deficit of total amount of water in the body. Accompanied with disrupted metabolic processes, the condition occurs when the amount of water loss is more than the amount of water intake. Physical and mental deterioration may occur when water loss in the body is more than ten percent of total body water. Then, death occurs when water loss reaches a margin of 15 and 25 percent of the body water. The following are the causes, signs and symptoms, and home remedies for dehydration.
Causes
Certain factors cause dehydration. According to Mayo Clinic, these include diarrhea and vomiting, since they promote fluid and electrolyte loss; fever, due to sweating secondary to high body temperature; excessive sweating secondary to hot and humid weather, especially if the sweat is unreplaced; and increased urination, which may be due to uncontrolled diabetes, medications like diuretics and blood pressure medications, and diuretic hormone imbalances.
Dehydration
Signs and Symptoms
Dehydration presents a number of signs and symptoms. According to NHS UK, these include a feeling of thirst, dark yellow and strong smelling urine, a feeling of dizziness and/or lightheadedness and tiredness, dryness of the mouth or lips and eyes, and little amount of urine, usually less than four times a day.
Home Remedies
While medications may be prescribed to maintain the balance of fluid intake and fluid loss, remedies can also be done to help manage dehydration.
Drink Fluids
One important remedy to combat dehydration is to drink lots of fluids. The person may drink water, fruit juice, coffee, tea, chocolate drink, or milk, as long as it is fluid, so as to replace the lost fluids in the body. The recommended number of glasses of water intake is eight to 12 glasses per day.
Oral Rehydration Solution
Another remedy for dehydration is a home made oral rehydration solution. While this may be available in pharmacies in powder from, one can make one at home for prompt restoration of lost fluids and minerals. To prepare, as per Top 10 Home Remedies, the person just adds half teaspoon of salt and six teaspoons of sugar or brown sugar to four cups of drinking water. Then, the mixture is stirred thoroughly until the salt and sugar completely dissolve. Once done, the home made solution is consumed several times a day until recovery.
Watery Fruits and vegetables
Another remedy for dehydration is the intake water watery fruits and vegetables. According to Search Home Remedy, people with mild to moderate dehydration should eat lots of watery fruits to normalize their body fluid levels. Excellent examples of watery fruits include watermelons, bananas, cantaloupes, and strawberries. For vegetables, the examples are eggplants, zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumbers. As per the publication, sugar and salt can be added to the fruit juice or vegetable salad to help regularize electrolytes in the body.
Simple Foods
Eating foods that are easily digested is another remedy for dehydration. According to How Stuff Works, doing so is recommended, since stomach cramping is a symptom of dehydration. As per the publication, sample foods that can be digested easily include potatoes, bananas, rice, soda crackers, and flavored gelatins; these can be digested for the next 24 hours. The publication noted that gelatins are good, since they are made of water.
Dehydration may not be detrimental at first, but it may become more life-threatening as it intensifies. Hence, it is best to control it early and seek medical consult from a doctor if it does not resolve after a series of management. This is for a deeper assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, health education, and evaluation.
