Dehydration

Dehydration



Description


Under normal conditions, your body maintains fluid balance through thirst mechanisms and the kidneys’ ability to dilute or concentrate your urine. However, during periods of exercise the thirst mechanism is not adequate to maintain good hydration. The human body needs water to maintain enough blood and other fluids to function properly. You lose fluids when you urinate, vomit, have diarrhea, sweat, breathe, or have a fever. If your body loses much more fluid than you are drinking, you become dehydrated. Along with the fluids, your body also loses mineral salts called electrolytes. If you wait until you are thirsty during an athletic event, it is too late to replenish fluids completely.



Factors that increase risk



• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Not eating much during an illness or after strenuous exercise

• Not drinking much during an illness or during or after strenuous exercise

• Medications that control excess body fluid by causing fluid loss (diuretics)

• Extremes of age (infants, elderly)


Possible Complications



• Reduced ability to dissipate heat, resulting in elevated core body temperatures

• Heat illness

• Heat stroke

• Kidney failure
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Jul 18, 2016 | Posted by in SPORT MEDICINE | Comments Off on Dehydration

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