Symptoms of Dehydration

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it is a lack of water in the organism, which can be caused by an insufficient supply of water in the diet and / or by excessive losses.

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Dehydration becomes morbid when the loss exceeds 5-6% of body weight.

But what are the symptoms and clinical signs? How dangerous is it actually? For who? How to behave?

causes considerable organic overheating, with negative repercussions on the hypothalamic thermo-regulatory center (see heat stroke).

Furthermore, in a dehydrated organism the volume is reduced, so that the blood circulates less well in the vessels, the heart becomes fatigued and, in extreme cases, cardio-circulatory collapse may arise.

For further information: Dehydration clinical dehydration are:

• thirst (not always present, especially in the elderly, and very often not in proportion to the degree of dehydration);
• muscle cramps;
• general weakness;
• drop in body weight;
• decreased diuresis, with particularly dark colored urine (typical hypertonic dehydration);
• dryness of the lips, skin and mucous membranes;
• increase in body temperature;
• sunken eyeballs;
• increased heart rate;
• impaired sensory;
• lack of tears in crying and coldness of the extremities.

Percentage of body weight lost due to dehydration Physiological implications 2 % Alterations of the pergormance 4 % Decreased muscular work capacity 5 % Gastrointestinal upset, heat exhaustion 7 % Hallucinations 10 % Circulatory collapse and heart attack and for its faster turnover. At risk are mainly newborns affected by the first viral gastroenteritis (see: intestinal flu).

The elderly are particularly at risk of dehydration as the stimulus of thirst fades with advancing age, there may be fear of urinary incontinence (with less fluid intake) or incorrect preconceptions, and diseases and organic and psychological alterations predisposing to dehydration.

The athlete is particularly at risk of dehydration due to the greater amount of sweat produced during sporting activity. It is estimated that in the subject engaged in physical activity, 1 ml of water is needed for each calorie spent.

intravenous glucohydrosaline (drip). Today, while continuing to use this treatment in the most serious situations, oral rehydration therapy is increasingly used. Special rehydrating preparations are available for children to buy at the pharmacy following the advice of the pediatrician.

For further information: Drinks Against Dehydration and at least a couple of liters in summer).

Remember that there are two main factors that influence the absorption rate of a drink: the gastric emptying time and the speed with which it is absorbed by the intestinal villi. The higher the percentage of carbohydrates in the sport drink, the lower the gastric emptying speed; for this reason, and not only, isotonic drinks are particularly useful to combat dehydration, where the percentage of carbohydrates is between 6 and "8 percent. Electrolytes, and in particular sodium and potassium, reduce the" urinary excretion and promote water retention and better absorption. Beware of excessive sun exposure and the practice of spas and saunas, to be avoided when you are at risk of dehydration.

When you move to a particularly hot place or to the first summer heat, you need to give the body the right time to acclimate, avoiding exposure to the sun directly during the hottest hours.

Forget the plastic sweat suits if you want to lose weight; they are useless, except to dehydrate and dangerously harm the health of the wearer.

Keep in mind that the risk of dehydration is high even at high altitudes, both due to the generally windy climate, the greater proximity of the sun's rays, and because more water is eliminated by breathing.

Even very long air travel can cause dehydration.