The Dangers of Dehydration
By Shirley Brower, R.N., Peninsula Volunteers Rosener House

With all the different microorganisms circulating around our environment, our health and the body's fluid and electrolyte balance is at risk.

We cannot live without body fluid and water is the largest single constituent of the body and accounts for over half an average adult's body weight. A loss of 10% is serious and a loss of 20% is fatal.

Water acts as a solvent and transports materials to and from the cells. It furnishes the aqueous environment necessary for cell metabolism and helps maintain body temperature.

Under normal conditions, about 2.5 liters is lost from the body daily through the skin, lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. To make up for these losses, the same amount must be taken into the body in foods and fluids, and the cells contribute another 250 ml through chemical activity.

When the intake is insufficient or the output excessive, dehydration occurs and the sense of thirst is triggered.

Older adults are more susceptible to rapid fluid and electrolyte depletion; they have a lower body water content and a decreased physiologic capacity to respond to sudden changes and to maintain homeostasis.

Possible causes of dehydration may be:

• Prolonged fever, illnesses (with vomiting and diarrhea), or infection where excessive body fluid is lost.
• Extensive use of laxatives and diuretics.
• Poor dietary habits such as high sodium diet with inadequate fluid replacement.
• Difficulty obtaining or swallowing foods/liquids.
• The elderly may deliberately restrict fluids to prevent incontinence especially at night.

Indicators of dehydration include:

• Flush, dry skin and mucous membranes, and thirst
• Poor skin turgor, weakness, lethargy and weight loss.
• Decreases urinary output, confusion, irritability and sunken eyes.

Treatment is aimed at:

• Replacement of fluids and electrolytes. Offer a wide variety of fluids and foods high in water content such as fruit salad, gelatin, ice cream, sherbet, Popsicles. Intravenous fluid therapy may be necessary.

Treatment of the underlying causes:

• Prevention of further dehydration.
• For those elderly persons living alone, close observation and more frequent interventions may be necessary to prevent dehydration.
• Adequate fluid intake for all of us in imperative in preventing dehydration.

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Peninsula Volunteers, Inc.
800 Middle Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Telephone: 650-326-0665
Fax: 650-326-9547