Dehydration Treatment Specialist in Merced, CA  

Dehydration is the physical state of an insufficient amount of water in your body, leading to diminished organ function and serious complications if it is not promptly addressed.

On the whole, your body is composed of approximately 55 to 78 percent water. To be specific, your lungs are roughly 83 percent water; muscles and kidneys are around 79 percent water; brain and heart are approximately 73 percent water; skin is 64 percent water, and your bones are an estimated 31 percent water. As such, water and hydration play a crucial role in nearly every organ function in our bodies! Some of the particular ways that water helps with organ function are as follows:

• Absorbs shock in the brain, spinal cord, and womb during pregnancy
• Assists with digestion and waste elimination
• Cushioning the bones
• Delivering oxygen throughout the body
• Helps maintain chemical and hormonal balances
• Lubricates joints
• Producing saliva
• Regulates body temperature

As a result, an insufficient amount of water in your body can lead to significant problems with organ function, in addition to increased injury risk. Some injuries and complications that dehydration can lead to include concussions, delirium, fractures, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and more.

Dehydration sets in when your body uses and loses more fluid than you put into it, which can happen due to a variety of different reasons. As such, common causes of dehydration include spending time outside in hot weather without drinking enough water (especially if alcohol or physical activity are involved), use of diuretic medications, vomiting or diarrhea, excessive sweating, or fever.

Other factors that can increase one’s risk of developing dehydration are as follows:

• Diabetes, kidney disease, and other chronic illnesses
• Infants and toddlers, owing to a decreased ability to regulate body temperature, communicate thirst, or help themselves to water
• Older adults, as fluid reserves diminish with age
• Working or exercising outside in the heat of the day

Severe dehydration significantly increases one’s risk of experiencing heatstroke, which is typically considered a medical emergency. Consequently, it is very important to know the signs of severe dehydration so you can seek immediate medical attention if it happens to you. With that in mind, the signs of severe dehydration are as follows:

• Confusion, irritability, or extreme tiredness
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Extremely dark, yellow urine or an unusual lack of urination
• Heart palpitations or a racing heart bate
• Lack of perspiration and dry skin
• Poor skin turgor, which occurs when your skin delays returning to its regular hue after a pinch or applied pressure
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Sunken eyes

Mild dehydration can usually be safely treated and cared for at home with rest in a cool environment and increased fluid consumption. However, you should go to an urgent care clinic if you would like medical guidance on rehydration or are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Cool, dry skin
• Dark yellow urine
• Dry, sticky mouth
• Extreme thirst
• Lack of urination
• Muscle cramps
• Severe headache

For more information about dehydration treatment, contact Getwell Urgent Care today. For more information, call us today or schedule an appointment online, or Visit our clinic conveniently located at 650 W. Olive Ave Suite B Merced CA 95348. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Merced CA, Atwater CA, The Grove CA, Bear Creek CA, Planada CA, and Athlone CA.