Very severe dehydration can lead to coma and death. Older people are particularly susceptible to dehydration. In older people, common causes of dehydration include. Disorders that make obtaining fluids difficult usually because of restricted mobility, such as after a stroke Overview of Stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply cerebral infarction.

Symptoms occur suddenly Additionally, older people sense thirst more slowly and less intensely than younger people do, so even those who are otherwise well may not drink enough fluids for a variety of reasons, including incontinence Urinary Incontinence in Adults Urinary incontinence is involuntary loss of urine.

read more or the fear of incontinence. Older people have a higher percentage of body fat. Because fat tissue contains less water than lean tissue, the total amount of water in the body tends to decrease with age.

In overhydration Overhydration Overhydration is an excess of water in the body. read more , the body contains too much water. In older people, the kidneys excrete excess water less efficiently, and thus older people can develop overhydration more easily than younger people do.

Swelling edema may or may not occur. Dehydration can often be diagnosed from symptoms and the results of a doctor's examination. But sometimes doctors do blood tests for people who appear seriously ill or who take certain drugs or have certain disorders.

For people who require more monitoring or testing in an emergency department or intensive care unit, doctors sometimes use ultrasound or special catheters to measure the severity of dehydration.

Dehydration normally causes the sodium level in the blood to increase. The reason is that although the common causes of dehydration such as profuse sweating Excessive Sweating People with excessive sweating hyperhidrosis sweat profusely, and some sweat almost constantly.

Excessive sweating usually has no clear cause but is sometimes caused by infections, metabolic read more , vomiting Nausea and Vomiting in Adults Nausea is an unpleasant feeling of needing to vomit. read more , and diarrhea Diarrhea in Adults Diarrhea is an increase in the volume, wateriness, or frequency of bowel movements.

read more result in a loss of electrolytes Overview of Electrolytes More than half of a person's body weight is water. Doctors think about water in the body as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main compartments are Fluid read more especially sodium and potassium , even more water is lost, so sodium becomes more concentrated in the blood.

Prevention of dehydration is better than cure. Adults should drink at least 6 glasses of fluids daily including fluid from eating foods high in water content, such as fruits and vegetables.

Flavored sports drinks have been formulated to replace electrolytes lost during vigorous exercise. These drinks can be used to prevent dehydration. People should drink fluids with electrolytes before and during vigorous exercise as well as afterward.

Before exercising, people with heart or kidney disorders should consult their doctors about how to safely replace fluids. People should make sure that older family members have access to plenty of water when they are alone in a hot building or place.

For treating mild dehydration, drinking plenty of water may be all that is needed. With moderate and severe dehydration, lost electrolytes especially sodium and potassium must also be replaced.

Deficiency or excess in key minerals like calcium and phosphorous, electrolyte imbalances like sodium and potassium, dehydration and fluid retention can all have their genesis in the kidneys. At the University of Michigan, patients with these issues are evaluated and treated within the General Nephrology Clinic.

Here, an expert team provides diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning to help manage these disorders. This results in the formation of large quantities of dilute urine regardless of fluid intake and development of thirst.

Fluid imbalances on both ends of the spectrum may be a manifestation of poor kidney health. If it does not, a doctor may order further tests to identify any underlying health conditions that may be causing the imbalance. Recommended intakes of some of the most common electrolytes are as follows:.

An imbalance can affect the way the body works and lead to a range of symptoms. For example, if a person feels faint after a workout, an electrolyte imbalance could be one reason.

Consuming electrolytes during or after intense exercise and other periods of profuse sweating can help preserve the balance. Be sure to stay hydrated at all times. Anyone with concerns should contact a healthcare professional.

Healthy potassium levels support kidney function, moderate blood pressure, bone strength, and muscle mass. Here, learn how much is right and where to…. Learn where you can find electrolytes in food and drink, including the best dietary sources of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.

What are electrolyte drinks and how can a person make one at home? Read on to learn more about electrolytes, such as what they do and how to make…. Dark-colored urine and thirst are classic signs that someone is dehydrated. The simple solution is to drink more.

But when dehydration occurs in the…. An electrolyte imbalance can occur if the body is dehydrated or contains too much water. Learn about the possible causes and treatments here.

My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us.

Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Everything you need to know about electrolytes. Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, Ph.

What are electrolytes? Imbalance Causes Monitoring Treatment Sources Takeaway An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in water. Electrolyte needed Sources Sodium dill pickles tomato juices, sauces, and soups table salt Chloride tomato juices, sauces, and soups lettuce olives table salt Potassium potatoes with their skin plain yogurt banana Magnesium halibut pumpkin seeds spinach Calcium yogurt milk ricotta collard greens spinach kale sardines.

Electrolyte Recommended intake, in milligrams mg Recommended intake for people over 50, in mg Recommended intake for people over 70, in mg Sodium 1, 1, 1, Potassium 4, — — Calcium 1, 1, — Magnesium for men, for women — — Chloride 2, 2, 1, How we reviewed this article: Sources.

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Share this article. Latest news Ovarian tissue freezing may help delay, and even prevent menopause.

RSV vaccine errors in babies, pregnant people: Should you be worried? Scientists discover biological mechanism of hearing loss caused by loud noise — and find a way to prevent it. How gastric bypass surgery can help with type 2 diabetes remission.

It may be easier to use a syringe for very young children. Older children can be given diluted sports drinks. Use 1 part sports drink to 1 part water. Most adults with mild to moderate dehydration from diarrhea, vomiting or fever can improve their condition by drinking more water or other liquids.

Diarrhea may be worsened by full-strength fruit juice and soft drinks. If you work or exercise outdoors during hot or humid weather, cool water is your best bet. Sports drinks containing electrolytes and a carbohydrate solution also may be helpful. Children and adults who are severely dehydrated should be treated by emergency personnel arriving in an ambulance or in a hospital emergency room.

Salts and fluids delivered through a vein intravenously are absorbed quickly and speed recovery. You're likely to start by seeing your or your child's doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, the doctor may recommend urgent medical care. If you, your child or an adult who you care for is showing signs of severe dehydration, such as lethargy or reduced responsiveness, seek immediate care at a hospital.

If you have time to prepare for your appointment, here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from the doctor. On this page.

Preparing for your appointment. To help confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the degree of dehydration, you may have other tests, such as: Blood tests. Blood samples may be used to check for a number of factors, such as the levels of your electrolytes — especially sodium and potassium — and how well your kidneys are working.

Tests done on your urine can help show whether you're dehydrated and to what degree. They also can check for signs of a bladder infection. More Information. Request an appointment. What you can do Write down any symptoms you or the person you're caring for is experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.

If you or the person you're caring for has been vomiting or has had diarrhea, the doctor will want to know when it began and how frequently it's been occurring. Write down key personal information, including any recent trips taken or foods recently eaten that might have caused illness.

In addition, your doctor will want to know if you or the person you're caring for has recently been exposed to anyone with diarrhea. Make a list of key medical information, including other conditions you or the person you're caring for is being treated for and the names of the medications being taken.

Include on your list prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as any vitamins and supplements. Write down questions to ask your doctor. For dehydration, some basic questions to ask the doctor include: What's causing these symptoms?

What kinds of tests are needed? What treatment do you recommend? How soon after treatment will there be improvement? Are there any activity or dietary restrictions? Is there anything I can do to prevent a recurrence of dehydration? I have other health conditions.

Do I need to change the treatments I've been using for them? What steps can I take to prevent dehydration from happening again? What to expect from your doctor Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as: When did the symptoms begin?

What were you doing? Are you able to keep down any food or drink? How recently have you urinated? Are you experiencing any pain or urgency with urination? Do you also have other signs or symptoms, such as abdominal cramping, fever, headache or muscle aches?

Dehydration in the older adult. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. Heat and athletes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of hypovolemia dehydration in children.

Sterns RH. Etiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of volume depletion in adults. Heat-related emergencies. Freedman S. Oral rehydration therapy. Thomas DT, et al. American College of Sports Medicine Joint Position Statement. Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

Takahashi PY expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Hoecker JL expert opinion. News from Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Hydration in the summer. Hydration in the heat. Associated Procedures. Show the heart some love! Give Today.

Help us advance cardiovascular medicine. Find a doctor. Explore careers. Sign up for free e-newsletters. About Mayo Clinic. About this Site. Contact Us. Health Information Policy.

Media Requests. News Network. Price Transparency. Medical Professionals. Clinical Trials. Mayo Clinic Alumni Association. Refer a Patient. Executive Health Program. International Business Collaborations. Supplier Information. Admissions Requirements. Degree Programs. Research Faculty.

International Patients. Financial Services. Community Health Needs Assessment. Financial Assistance Documents — Arizona. Water usually works well after shorter, less strenuous activities. How much water you need usually depends on the intensity and type of workout and climate.

Everyone is different so it may be easier to listen to your body and let your thirst guide you. Eating water-rich fruits and veggies, like watermelon and cucumber, contribute to your overall daily intake of fluids and helps you stay hydrated too.

Sports drinks contain electrolytes and carbohydrates in addition to water. They can be helpful for maintaining hydration levels during high intensity exercise. The main electrolytes in sports drinks are sodium and potassium. Carbs often come in the form of sugars, such as glucose, sucrose and fructose.

Limiting sugary drinks is important.