Dehydration in Adults Overview
Dehydration is a condition that can occur when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. With dehydration, more water is moving out of individual cells and then out of the body than the amount of water that is taken in through drinking. Medically, dehydration usually means a person has lost enough fluid so that the body begins to lose its ability to function normally and then begins to produce symptoms related to fluid loss. Although infants and children are at highest risk for dehydration, many adults and especially the elderly have significant risk factors.
People lose water every day in the form of water vapor in the breath we exhale, and as water in our sweat, urine, and stool. Along with the water, small amounts of salts or electrolytes are also lost. Our bodies are constantly readjusting the balance between water (and salts or electrolytes) losses with fluid intake. When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated. Most doctors divide dehydration into three stages: 1) mild, 2) moderate and 3) severe. Mild and often even moderate dehydration can be reversed or put back in balance by oral intake of fluids that contain electrolytes (or salts) that are lost during activity. If unrecognized and untreated, some instances of moderate and severe dehydration can lead to death. This article is designed to discuss dehydration in adults.
IV Hydration Are you dehydrated?
Even if you drink a ton of water, the answer is likely yes . Between the coffees, and alcohol that we drink and that are entwined into our culture many of us are not hydrated enough, even when we drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Chronic dehydration is a rising health epidemic in the U.S., with one of the main symptoms being fatigue.
For us to make the most of our of life and create the unforgettable memories we crave, we need to feel good, and one of the ways to feel better is to make sure that your body is hydrated. Over 70% of our bodies are made up of water, and over 90% of our blood is water. Not surprisingly, our bodies require being hydrated for almost everything to function as it should, including hormone levels, mental performance, physical performance, joint health, blood circulation, weight, skin and hair health, mood, energy levels and more.
IV Treatments, like the ones we offer at I.V Vitamin Therapy Clinic, are the most powerful way to ensure that you stay hydrated, energized and youthful.
How Do I Know If I’m Dehydrated?
Thirst is not the best sign of the hydration levels in your body because if you’re thirsty it means that your body is already dehydrated. There are better predictors of the hydration levels in your body, some of which include: