The human body consists of approximately 70% water. Accordingly, a balanced water balance is important. A lack of fluid (fluid deficiency (dehydration)) can quickly lead to life-threatening conditions. Not only the liquid is missing, but also electrolytes. Thus, electrolyte balance can be severely disrupted.
What is dehydration?
Normally, a normal fluid intake of two liters daily is sufficient for the human body. If the body is not supplied with enough fluid, this can lead to dehydration. If there is a fluid deficit in the organism, this is referred to as dehydration or fluid deficiency. If there is an extreme loss of fluid, this can lead to exsiccosis, a dehydration of the body. The body already lacks 0.5% of fluid when a feeling of thirst becomes noticeable. During the day, the body constantly loses water through sweating, metabolic processes and kidney excretions. As a rule, a normal fluid intake of two liters per day is sufficient to compensate for this loss. If the body is not supplied with enough fluid, this can lead to dehydration.
Causes
The causes of a fluid deficiency can be many. The most common reason is a lack of fluid intake. Older people in particular often drink too little, as their sense of thirst decreases. In infants and small children, the risk of fluid deficiency arises from fever and diarrhea. They have much lower fluid reserves, which is why the organism has difficulty compensating for water losses. Accidental injuries such as severe bleeding, sepsis or burns can also lead to dehydration. In this case, there is an additional risk of shock, since the rapid loss of fluid leads to a lack of volume in the organism. Furthermore, diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes, explicitly diabetic coma, or treatment with diuretics can be responsible for a lack of fluid.
Diseases with this symptom
- Diabetes insipidus
- Gastrointestinal flu
- Diabetic coma
- Acute renal failure
- Bacterial infection
- Diabetes mellitus
- Adrenocortical insufficiency
- Blood poisoning
- Burn
Symptoms and course
Dehydration is indicated by symptoms such as thirst, dry skin and mucous membranes, dizziness, weakness, confusion to unconsciousness and collapse. Since virtually all areas of the organism are affected, the symptoms can be wide-ranging according to the degree of severity. In most cases, the causes can quickly be traced back to a possible lack of fluids. If countermeasures are taken in good time and the causes are not serious, the patient usually recovers quickly. The most important thing for the further course of the disease is to combat the causes. If, for example, severe injuries or burns are present, the course can be associated with complications, since not only the loss of fluids is a problem, but also the associated loss of electrolytes in particular. Thus, a blood test with a special focus on electrolyte levels is of particular importance for diagnosis.
Complications
Since the body consists of 70 percent water, a lack of fluids quickly makes itself felt. For example, blood pressure initially rises, which can lead to circulatory problems and headaches. Another common complication of dehydration of the body is the loss of electrolytes. These are minerals that the body absolutely needs in order for all bodily functions to run smoothly. If a deficiency of these electrolytes occurs, it becomes noticeable through headaches, muscle tremors and cramps, and circulatory failure, among other symptoms. A deficiency of electrolytes can also occur with treated dehydration if care has not been taken to increase the intake of electrolytes. Other complications of fluid deficiency include difficulty concentrating, increased susceptibility to infection, rising body temperature, and digestive difficulties. Untreated fluid deficiency leads to further complications. These include external symptoms such as dry skin and mucous membranes. Internal symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, drop in blood pressure, weakness and confusion.In the further course, unconsciousness or circulatory collapse may occur. If the body’s fluid content continues to drop, exsiccosis, i.e. dehydration, will eventually occur. This is accompanied by a change in blood composition, urinary retention, a rapid drop in blood pressure and even circulatory failure. In this stage of dehydration, severe, sometimes irreversible kidney damage can also occur.
When should you see a doctor?
Lack of fluid, referred to by the medical term as dehydration, can become life-threatening even within a short period of time. It is not only the lack of fluid as such so dangerous, but in addition the associated loss of electrolytes. Among other things, electrolytes control important cell functions, which is why a balanced electrolyte balance is vital. This can only be guaranteed if the body’s water balance is also balanced. In the event of a dangerous lack of fluids, a doctor should be consulted immediately. The human body consists of almost three quarters water. Lack of fluid or dehydration soon leads to dramatic effects. It begins with signs such as circulatory problems, rising blood pressure, headaches and concentration problems. Immediate drinking of water and a visit to the doctor are indicated. Otherwise, electrolytes will soon drop out, and muscle tremors and cramps will set in. Now it is high time to call a doctor, already thinking of an emergency doctor. Progressive fluid depletion would result in what is known as exsiccosis, or dehydration. Calling in a doctor in the event of a lack of fluids is also important in order to prevent subsequent damage. The administration of fluids and electrolytes in intensive care may reverse the dehydration. However, the kidneys can be severely and irreversibly affected by the fluid deficiency that has occurred. A physician will not only treat the volatile deficiency, but will clarify whether the dehydration was due to an underlying condition that requires treatment.
Treatment and therapy
Dehydration is treated, depending on severity, with fluid administration. In emergency medicine, this is intravenous administration of whole electrolyte solutions and, in cases of severe blood loss, volume replacement. In the clinic, the first priority is to treat the cause to prevent further fluid loss. Accordingly, in cases of severe bleeding, the bleeding is stopped and the fluid loss is treated in parallel with the administration of blood units and electrolyte solutions. In cases of severe diarrhea, the infection is treated with medication. In most cases, such diseases require slow fluid intake via a drip. In this way, the compensation of missing electrolytes is also carried out. In mild forms of dehydration, it is usually sufficient for the patient to drink enough to compensate for the increased fluid requirement. In addition, the attending physician can use a blood test to decide whether further medication is necessary. This may be the case if certain electrolytes such as magnesium, sodium or calcium are lacking. Important for the treatment is not only the supply of fluid, but likewise the balance of the electrolyte balance, since just these are crucial for all vital processes in the body.
Outlook and prognosis
Fluid deficiency, if left untreated, leads to serious adverse health effects. Chronic dehydration means a decrease in mental and physical performance associated with confusion, disorientation, muscle cramps, and cardiovascular disease, among other symptoms. After an initial mild course, the undersupply of organs and the brain affects the entire organism. The longer the dehydration persists, the more likely permanent damage is likely, which can cause further illness. There is no prospect of rapid recovery if the course of fluid deficiency is chronic or acute. Young children, pregnant women and the elderly can suffer severe damage after only a few hours without fluids. Temporary fluid deficiency, on the other hand, can usually be fully compensated for and has no long-term consequences, provided there are no corresponding underlying diseases. If the body is quickly supplied with fluids again and the causes are not serious, the symptoms will also decrease again.Those affected usually experience the typical hangover for another one to two days before the symptoms have completely subsided. The decisive factor for an uncomplicated course of the disease is combating the cause. If the cause of the lack of fluids can be found and treated, there is a chance of complete recovery.
Prevention
Apart from accidents and serious illnesses, dehydration can generally be prevented simply by drinking enough fluids every day. For example, more should be drunk after heavy sweating. It is advisable to drink unsweetened tea, mineral water or fruit spritzers. Young children and older people should always be encouraged to drink, as their sense of thirst is either not yet properly developed or is no longer present to a sufficient degree. If pre-existing conditions such as renal insufficiency or diabetes can trigger dehydration, treatment of these conditions is paramount.
What you can do yourself
Because dehydration can be life-threatening, particular care should be taken to avoid such a condition by ensuring adequate fluid intake. In the event of illnesses such as diarrhea, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent a serious lack of fluid from developing in the body or to compensate for it as quickly as possible. Water and food intake must always compensate for the body’s total fluid losses, which occur through excretion in urine and faeces, sweating and respiration. A guideline for average water intake is 35 ml per day and kilogram of body weight. During high temperatures and extreme physical activity, fluid losses can reach three to four liters per hour. In these situations, it is necessary to think not only about water balance, but also about supplementing the lost electrolytes, especially sodium. In the elderly, the sense of thirst diminishes. The resulting dehydration, which can lead to health problems, should be avoided. A drinking plan to be strictly followed can be a solution here. If dehydration has already occurred, it must be compensated for. In cases of mild fluid deficiency, drinking to compensate for water loss is the first priority. In the case of weakened or sick patients and high fluid losses, self-help is often no longer possible, and consultation with a physician is unavoidable. In these cases, infusions must be given that contain electrolytes and/or glucose in addition to water.
