Dehydration (medicine)

Dehydration (medicine)

       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration

Poster's comments:

1) Dehydration can kill people of all kinds.  Sports people in very good condition can suffer from dehydration, for example. Often they just over-do things and try tough it out. This poster knows of people who have died or gotten "fried brains" this way, too.

2) It is much easier to prevent it, than to treat it. Examples of preventing it are mandatory cool down times (like 5 minutes every hour during  a hike when one is sweating), drinking enough liquids in a timely manner, and limiting exposure to heat, like the sunshine one receives during beginning gardening, and even later gardening. For example, during long runs in Okinawa I would carry a small zip bag full of 100 yen coins, which would purchase cooled cans of electrolyte drink at the time. And sweating can be during both cold and warm seasons.

3)  One example of treating it is stopping what activity caused it, and often immersing the person suffering from heat stroke (worse case) in a tub of ice water. Remember, you are trying to save a life, and a brain.

4) People with diarrhea often also get dehydrated with all the negative consequences.  Examples are like heat exhaustion, and heat stroke (look it up if you don't know the differences). One can drink any kind of electrolytes (if you have it or can make it),  clean water (about a cup of water every 5 miles in a marathon is a start point), and even give an enema for the ill who can't drink, or hold a drink down. Here's one conventional formula for making electrolyte:  6 teaspoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1 liter of water. There a plenty of other ideas and formulas on this subject, too.

5)  Depending on your diet and exercise, consider taking some extra salt and potassium, too.

6) When one starts getting muscle cramps, that is often a sign of dehydration. At that point, it is too late to take quick action to correct the problem. Rather stop the activity that prompted the cramps and wait.  If running, consider walking home as best you can. Often the recovery period can be hours.

7)  Self treat yourself if the situation suggests it. For example cool off in a body of water, even if is yucky water in a ditch.

8)  Get a second opinion, like from a doctor if you can. But don't wait to begin first aid steps as suggested in the preceding. Dehydration's effects can turn serious very quickly. Most often it doesn't turn very serious, thank goodness. But if you are dehydrated, then you are still dehydrated, and one should address the problem at the time.