DEHYDRATION

Dehydration Patient Education

What is dehydration?
Dehydration happens when your body loses more water than you take in. Water is very important because it helps your body work well. When you don’t have enough water, your body parts don’t work right.

Common causes of dehydration:

Not drinking enough water
Sweating a lot from exercise or hot weather
Being sick with vomiting or diarrhea
Fever
Certain medicines that make you lose water, like some for blood pressure or diabetes
Not drinking enough because you feel sick or tired

Signs and symptoms of dehydration:

Feeling very thirsty
Dry mouth and dry lips
Feeling tired or weak
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Dark yellow urine or less urine than normal
Headache
Fast heartbeat
Confusion or trouble focusing (in serious cases)

Treatment for dehydration:

Drink plenty of fluids like water, oral rehydration drinks, or clear broths
Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol because they can make dehydration worse
If vomiting or diarrhea is severe, see a doctor—sometimes fluids need to be given through a vein (IV)

Risks of dehydration:

Feeling very weak and dizzy, which can cause falls or accidents
Heat stroke in hot weather
Kidney problems if dehydration lasts too long
Confusion or fainting, especially in older adults or children

How to prevent dehydration:

Drink water regularly every day, even if you don’t feel very thirsty
Drink more fluids when you exercise, are in hot weather, or feel sick
Eat fruits and vegetables with water in them, like watermelon and cucumbers
Avoid drinks that dry you out, like coffee, tea, and soda, if you are already dehydrated
Pay attention to your body and take fluids often

When to call your home health care agency or doctor:

You have mild symptoms like thirst, dry mouth, or a little dizziness
You cannot drink enough fluids because you feel sick or weak
You have diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 1 day
You notice less urine than normal or it is very dark yellow
You feel confused or very weak but are still able to stay at home safely

When to go to the Emergency Room:

You cannot keep fluids down because of vomiting or diarrhea
You feel very dizzy and cannot stand or walk safely
You are confused, faint, or very sleepy and hard to wake up
You have a very fast heartbeat or breathing trouble
You have signs of heat stroke, such as hot, dry skin and no sweating

Patient Homework / Assessment

Instructions:
Read each statement below. Circle TRUE if the statement is correct. Circle FALSE if the statement is wrong, and then write the correct answer.

True or False: Dehydration happens when your body has less water than it needs.
True or False: Drinking coffee helps prevent dehydration.
True or False: Sweating a lot can cause dehydration.
True or False: Feeling very thirsty is a sign of dehydration.
True or False: Dark yellow urine can be a sign of dehydration.
True or False: You should avoid drinking water if you feel dizzy from dehydration.
True or False: Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
True or False: You only need to drink water when you feel very thirsty.
True or False: Drinking water regularly can help prevent dehydration.
True or False: Dehydration can cause confusion or dizziness.
True or False: You should drink alcohol if you think you are dehydrated.
True or False: If you have trouble keeping fluids down, you should go to the emergency room.
True or False: Eating fruits and vegetables can help keep you hydrated.
True or False: Mild dehydration symptoms always need a visit to the emergency room.
True or False: You should call your doctor if you have diarrhea for more than one day.
True or False: Dehydration only happens in hot weather.
True or False: If you feel very weak and dizzy, you might be dehydrated.
True or False: Caffeine can make dehydration worse.
True or False: It’s okay to wait to drink fluids until you feel very thirsty.
True or False: Confusion and fainting are serious signs of dehydration that need immediate care.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Symptom Identification:

Have you noticed excessive thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, or decreased urine output recently?

Activity Impact/SAFETY:

Has dehydration affected your ability to perform daily activities safely, such as walking, standing, or exercising?

Treatment Adherence:

Are you drinking the recommended amount of fluids and following any prescribed treatments to restore hydration?

Preventive Measures:

Are you taking steps to prevent dehydration, such as drinking water regularly, especially in hot weather or during physical activity, and monitoring for early signs of fluid loss