Re: Dehydration

Dehydration in Adults


Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. With dehydration, more water is moving out of our cells and then out of our bodies than the amount of water we take in through drinking.

We 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 are also lost.

When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated. Severe dehydration can lead to death.
Causes of Dehydration in Adults

Many conditions may cause rapid and continued fluid losses and lead to dehydration:

Fever, heat exposure, and too much exercise
Vomiting, diarrhea, and increased urination due to infection
Diseases such as diabetes
The inability to seek appropriate water and food (as in the case of an infant or disabled person)
An impaired ability to drink (for instance someone in a coma or on a respirator or a sick infant who cannot suck on a bottle)
No access to safe drinking water
Significant injuries to skin, such as burns or mouth sores, or severe skin diseases or infections (water is lost through the damaged skin)

Symptoms of Dehydration in Adults

The signs and symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe and include:

Increased thirst
Dry mouth and swollen tongue
Weakness
Dizziness
Palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding)
Confusion
Sluggishness fainting
Fainting
Inability to sweat
Decreased urine output

Urine color may indicate dehydration. If urine is concentrated and deeply yellow or amber, you may be dehydrated.
When to Seek Medical Care

Call your doctor if the dehydrated person experiences any of the following:

Increased or constant vomiting for more than a day
Fever over 101°F
Diarrhea for more than 2 days
Weight loss
Decreased urine production
Confusion
Weakness

Take the person to the hospital's emergency department if these situations occur:

Fever higher than 103°F
Confusion
Sluggishness (lethargy)
Headache
Seizures
Difficulty breathing
Chest or abdominal pains
Fainting
No urine in the last 12 hours

Info from WebMD

Drink plenty of water...

Re: Pulse Rates

My pulse rate went down to 48 on Saturday. I had no energy, was having cold chills from head to foot and felt very dizzy and faint.

Pulse Measurement

Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm). But the rhythm and strength of the heartbeat can also be noted, as well as whether the blood vessel feels hard or soft. Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, a weak pulse, or a hard blood vessel may be caused by heart disease or another problem.

As your heart pumps blood through your body, you can feel a pulsing in some of the blood vessels close to the skin's surface, such as in your wrist, neck, or upper arm. Counting your pulse rate is a simple way to find out how fast your heart is beating.

Your doctor will usually check your pulse during a physical examination or in an emergency, but you can easily learn to check your own pulse pop out. You can check your pulse the first thing in the morning, just after you wake up but before you get out of bed. This is called a resting pulse. Some people like to check their pulse before and after they exercise.

You check your pulse rate by counting the beats in a set period of time (at least 15 to 20 seconds) and multiplying that number to get the number of beats per minute. Your pulse changes from minute to minute. It will be faster when you exercise, have a fever, or are under stress. It will be slower when you are resting.

Your pulse is checked to:

See how well the heart is working. In an emergency situation, your pulse rate can help find out if the heart is pumping enough blood.
Help find the cause of symptoms, such as an irregular or rapid heartbeat (palpitations), dizziness, fainting, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
Check for blood flow after an injury or when a blood vessel may be blocked.
Check on medicines or diseases that cause a slow heart rate. Your doctor may ask you to check your pulse every day if you have heart disease or if you are taking certain medicines that can slow your heart rate, such as digoxin or beta-blockers (like propranolol or atenolol).
Check your general health and fitness level. Checking your pulse rate at rest, during exercise, or immediately after vigorous exercise can give you important information about your overall fitness level.

Information from WebMD