Dehydration and Heatstroke

Dehydration and heatstroke go hand in hand It happens most commonly in people who are out in the sun.

What happens is that people sweat and replace their lost electrolyte-packed body fluids with only water. Dehydration can soon follow, and heatstroke can set in if a person becomes so dehydrated they can't sweat enough to cool down, and their body temperature rises.

How to avoid it.

If you are outside and sweating, you should be drinking at least a 50-50 mix of Gatorade and water, which has potassium and sodium. You need to be drinking at least one small liter bottle of this mix every hour if you're working or exercising in the sun.

Warning signs.

Symptoms of dehydration can run the gamut from thirst and general fatigue, to headaches, nausea, and confusion. Heatstroke symptoms are also headache and confusion, but include delirium and even hallucinations.

What to do.

While mild dehydration can be treated by rehydrating with fluids, heatstroke is more serious. If you have heatstroke, you need to go to the emergency room so you can have intravenous fluids. With really bad heatstroke, your kidneys can shut down.

Presented for you by Shepard’s Crook Nursing Agency, Inc.