Dehydration facts
- Dehydration is defined as an excessive loss of body fluid.
- An average person loses about ninety ounces (2.66 liters) of water daily.
- Only water truly hydrates the body and alleviates the unwellness of hypohydration (dehydration).
- There are 3 main types of dehydration: hypotonic or hyponatremic, hypertonic or hypernatremic, and isotonic or isonatremic.
- People with proper weight should drink two quarts of water each day. Over-weight people need one additional glass of water for every twenty-five pounds (11 kg) of excess weight.
- In humans, the most commonly seen type of dehydration by far is isotonic (loss of water and electrolytes).
- Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat.
- Dehydration symptoms generally become noticeable after two percent of one's normal water volume has been lost.
- A deficiency of water can alter the concentration of electrolytes such as potassium, sodium and chloride which has a negative effect on the function of the brain.
- Symptoms of mild dehydration include thirst, unexplained tiredness, decreased urine volume, abnormally dark urine, lack of tears when crying, irritability, dry mouth, headache, dizziness when standing, and in some cases can cause insomnia.
- In moderate to severe dehydration, there may be no urine output at all. Other symptoms in these states include lethargy or extreme sleepiness, seizures, sunken fontanel in infants, fainting, and sunken eyes.
- Losses of body fluid greater than 15 percent are usually fatal.
- In the case of serious lack of fresh water, drinking seawater or urine does not help.
