HEALTHY LIVING

How to Defend Against Dehydration in Kids and Older Adults

Defend against these dehydration causes

Sub Heading

At any age, dehydration can be dangerous. Here's how to spot it and treat it.

Main Image

Alt text

Duration

FEB. 09, 2018

3 MIN. READ

Description

If you or a family member are feeling tired, headache-y or cranky, it's easy to assume that a cold or virus is coming on. However, the real culprit could be dehydration. "The stomach flu, fever, morning sickness, sweltering temperatures, exercising heavily on a hot day, and even travel are all common dehydration causes," says Jennifer Williams, M.P.H., a research scientist at Abbott.

Dehydration is basically a loss of body water. This includes both water and vital electrolytes such as sodium, chloride and potassium. Water is so critical it makes up about 60 percent of body weight in adults, and up to 75 percent of body weight in infants. We need it for important jobs such as regulating body temperature, maintaining healthy skin and joints, digesting food, removing waste and helping our brains function at their best.

However, Williams notes that "when your body loses water faster than you can replace it, and dehydration is moderate to severe, serious complications can develop such as seizures, kidney failure or dangerous drops in blood volume which affect blood pressure."

The good news is that with a few tips you can learn to recognize the signs of dehydration in children and adults so you can take action quickly.

Know Who's at Risk

Babies and Children: Dehydration can affect anybody, no matter how old — or young — they are, even if they're completely healthy. Some people are particularly prone to dehydration such as infants, young children and the elderly.

"We need to be really concerned about infants and young children because their bodies contain a higher proportion of water, so they're impacted by water loss more quickly," says Williams.

Dehydration becomes a concern when a person loses just three percent of their body weight in water. For a 15-pound baby that translates to as little as eight ounces (about the size of a small juice glass), so dehydration can happen quickly.

Older Adults: When it comes to aging adults, they can be low on fluids for lots of different reasons. The first is that they may simply forget to drink up. As our sense of thirst becomes less keen with age, some may not even realize that they haven't had enough to drink. There are other dehydration causes too. Older family members may be taking medications such as diuretics that dehydrate them or they may avoid drinking sufficient fluids simply to cut down on frequent trips to the bathroom.

Subtle Symptoms

While dehydration can make most people irritable and lethargic, other symptoms can vary from age to age. Infants may not produce tears, have a dry mouth or a low-grade fever, and may stop wetting their diapers. Adults may become dizzy or thirsty, suffer from a headache, constipation or dry skin, and their urine may be darker than usual (normally it should be clear or very light yellow in color).

Because infants are affected by fluid loss so quickly, it's always best to call your pediatrician as soon as you suspect dehydration, and continue normal feeding of breast milk or formula as needed. For children and adults, Williams recommends asking a few simple questions about their symptoms as well as asking about their recent fluid intake.

Fluids First – And Foods Count!

Should the evidence point to dehydration, a glass of water is a good start, but you may want to follow up with an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte®. The reason? When we lose fluids due to sweat, heat, diarrhea, and vomiting, our bodies also lose electrolytes — like sodium, potassium, and chloride — needed to maintain fluid balance and keep our nervous systems and muscles functioning properly. Sipping Pedialyte® over a 24-hour period can help restore those lost electrolytes.

It's also helpful to keep in mind that hydration isn't just about what we drink. Fluids only make up about 80 percent of our daily water intake while food accounts for the additional 20 percent. For maximum impact choose water-packed foods like fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, soup and yogurt.

RELATED ARTICLE

See More

Healthy Travel Tips: Staying Hydrated While Traveling

Main Image
Heading: Healthy Travel Tips: Staying Hydrated While Traveling
Description: When you're getting ready for a trip, staying hydrated while traveling might not be on your radar — but it should be. Air travel can be surprisingly dehydrating, setting you up for possible effects of mild dehydration, such as headaches, dizziness and fatigue, before you even arrive at your destination. Not getting enough fluids can interfere with short-term memory, attention and mood, too.
Reference Page Path: /content/an/newsroom/us/en/healthy-living/diet-wellness/Healthy-Travel-Tips-Staying-Hydrated-While-Traveling.html

Debunking Protein Myths for Better Nutrition

Main Image

Heading

Are You Getting it Wrong on Protein? Here’s How to Get it Right.

Description

Key Takeaways

• Protein is an essential nutrient needed for nearly every function in the body.
• Your protein needs may increase with age, activity level and illness, and during weight loss.
• Eating high-quality protein at meals and snacks can help make sure you get the recommended amount.

Reference Page Path

/content/an/newsroom/us/en/healthy-living/diet-wellness/are-you-getting-it-wrong-on-protein-heres-how-to-get-it-right

SELF QUIZ

RELATED PRODUCT

PEDIALYTE® PRODUCTS

Advanced rehydration to quickly replenish fluids and electrolytes to help you feel better fast.

NUTRITION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE. THAT’S WHY WE WORK HARD TO ADVANCE AND SHARE THE LATEST SCIENCE AND CREATE BETTER WAYS TO NOURISH YOUR BODY AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE.

Subscribe Policy

I understand and agree that the information I’ve provided will be used according to the terms of Abbott’s Privacy Policy. Terms and conditions apply.

Unless otherwise specified, all product and services names appearing in this Internet site are trademarks owned by or licensed to Abbott, its subsidiaries or affiliates. No use of any Abbott trademark, tradename, or trade dress in the site may be made without the prior written authorization of Abbott, except to identify the product or services of the company.