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Dehydration
Pronunciation
Definition 1
A condition caused by the loss of too much water from the body. Severe diarrhea or vomiting can cause dehydration. (NCI Dictionary)
Definition 2
A condition resulting from the excessive loss of water from the body. It is usually caused by severe diarrhea, vomiting or diaphoresis. (NCI Thesaurus)
More information
When you're dehydrated, your body doesn't have enough fluid to work properly. An average person on an average day needs about 3 quarts of water. But if you're out in the hot sun, you'll need a lot more than that. Most healthy bodies are very good at regulating water. Elderly people, young children and some special cases - like people taking certain medications - need to be a little more careful.
Signs of dehydration in adults include
• Being thirsty
• Urinating less often than usual
• Dark-colored urine
• Dry skin
• Feeling tired
• Dizziness and fainting
Signs of dehydration in babies and young children include a dry mouth and tongue, crying without tears, no wet diapers for 3 hours or more, a high fever and being unusually sleepy or drowsy.
If you think you're dehydrated, drink small amounts of water over a period of time. Taking too much all at once can overload your stomach and make you throw up. For people exercising in the heat and losing a lot of minerals in sweat, sports drinks can be helpful. Avoid any drinks that have caffeine. (NIH)
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