Diarrhea generates significant fluid and electrolyte losses: how to rehydrate effectively?
A prolonged episode of diarrhea or vomiting can cause the body to lose more fluid than it can absorb. Severe dehydration, often symptomatic of diarrhea, can lead to cessation of kidney function and can be particularly dangerous in children and the elderly. It is important to control it in adults and people at risk and thus allow the body to defend itself in these situations leading to dehydration.
What is diarrhea?
Going to the bathroom, having a bowel movement, pooping – whatever you call it, bowel movements are an integral part of your life. However, sometimes this process of removing waste from your body changes. When you have loose or watery stools, it is called diarrhea. This is a very common condition that usually resolves without intervention. Diarrhea can occur for a wide variety of reasons and it usually goes away on its own within one to three days. When you have diarrhea, you may need to quickly run to the bathroom urgently and this may happen more frequently than normal. You may also feel bloated, have lower abdominal cramps, and sometimes nausea. Although most cases of diarrhea are self-limiting (occurring for a fixed duration and consistent level of severity), diarrhea can sometimes lead to serious complications. Diarrhea can cause dehydration (when your body loses large amounts of water), electrolyte imbalance (loss of sodium, potassium and magnesium which play key roles in vital bodily functions) and kidney failure (not enough of blood/fluid is supplied to the kidneys). When you have diarrhea, you lose water and electrolytes as well as stools. You need to drink plenty of fluids (even if it's difficult) to replace what is lost. Dehydration can become serious if it does not resolve (improve), gets worse, and is not treated adequately.
If you experience diarrhea or vomiting, watch carefully for these signs of dehydration:
- Feeling thirsty and dry mouth
- Colored or dark urine
- Urinating infrequently during the day
- dry skin (skinfold test)
- Fatigue and loss of concentration
- Nausea
By the time these symptoms appear, however, dehydration may be well advanced. At the first sign of diarrhea or vomiting, begin replacing lost water and essential salts called electrolytes with rehydration solutions.
ORS (oral rehydration salts) are a special combination of dry salts mixed with safe water. It can help replace fluids lost due to diarrhea.
Hydratis is a French company specializing in the theme of hydration and rehydration of the body, working with specialists in this theme.
People with certain medical conditions such as heart failure or incontinence may need to limit their fluid intake, so ask your doctor how much fluid you need to prevent dehydration when you are sick.
What are electrolytes for hydration?
Electrolytes are essential for a body to function properly, and they are even more essential for a well-hydrated body.
These are the minerals responsible for directing water to the areas of your body that need it most.
They also help maintain optimal water balance within the cells themselves.
Electrolytes are minerals that conduct electricity when dissolved in water. They are distributed throughout your body's fluids and use their electrical energy to facilitate important bodily functions: They are essential for controlling your fluid balance, regulating blood pressure, supporting muscle function including your heart, and maintaining proper acidity of your blood (pH).
Glucose is also an essential element to facilitate the absorption of liquids in the small intestine via the sodium cotransport system with glucose, and therefore facilitate the absorption of water by the body. This relatively complex process allows water molecules to pass through the cell membranes of the intestine more quickly, and therefore makes these ingredients essential for the creation of an oral rehydration solution (ORS).
Older people are at increased risk of becoming dehydrated
Age-related changes in the body's ability to balance water and sodium increase the danger. A senior experiencing diarrhea and/or vomiting should try to drink at least 1.7 liters of fluid every 24 hours, or a little less than half a gallon. That's the equivalent of about 7 eight-ounce glasses of water. Dehydration experts also recommend liquid meal replacements.
Find the Hydratis 50+ range of products in pharmacies and on the hydratis.co website.
The Hydratis team has developed the first rehydration solution adapted to the needs of adults aged 50 and over . The Hydratis 50+ range is available in several flavors so that the user experience is pleasant, while the formulation allows the creation of a hypotonic drink with a low dose of sugar and sodium to benefit from better assimilation of liquids while being suitable to the physiological fragilities of age. Hydratis 50+ is an ideal solution during episodes of diarrhea and vomiting or during periods increasing the adult's fluid need; physical exertion, alcohol consumption, extreme heat and heatwaves.
Why does diarrhea cause significant water loss?
Diarrhea usually goes away on its own within a few days and is nothing to worry about. But severe or frequent diarrhea may be a sign of a more serious health problem and requires medical attention. If left untreated, diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which comes with its own health problems. When Diarrhea Leads to Dehydration The biggest complication of diarrhea is dehydration, which occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in. When this happens, your body doesn't have enough water and fluids to carry out its normal functions. Anyone can become dehydrated, but it is more common and more dangerous in young children and people with weakened immune systems.
Periods of diarrhea after drinking alcohol ?
Many people experience diarrhea after drinking alcohol . Diarrhea can be uncomfortable and may be accompanied by other symptoms. Additionally, certain types of alcohol may be more likely to cause diarrhea than others, but there is no miracle cure.
Alcohol is easily absorbed by the body. As soon as alcohol enters the body, it begins to make its way into the bloodstream which takes place in the stomach. If there is food in the stomach at this time, the absorption rate will slow down. This is why people feel the effects of alcohol more quickly on an empty stomach. Once it leaves the stomach, alcohol begins to be absorbed by the small intestine. Most of the alcohol is absorbed here, but the rest goes into the large intestine and comes out with the stool and urine. Alcohol can cause serious changes in the normal functions of the digestive system and thus be responsible for more or less severe inflammation and diarrhea.
In this case, it is not recommended to consume drinks such as coffee, milk, or fatty foods. Choose tea with honey, a sweet drink to rehydrate yourself - or add a Hydratis tablet to enrich your water with minerals and trace elements. Consider eating slow, easy-to-digest sugars like pasta or rice.
When to get help for dehydration?
Experts recommend calling your doctor if diarrhea or vomiting persists for more than two days. Be careful, call sooner if there is fever or pain in the abdomen or rectum, if the stools appear black or tarry, if signs of dehydration appear. If a period of acute diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, consult your doctor and at the first signs in fragile people; seniors and infants.
How to recover after a period of acute diarrhea?
We recommend eating rice as soon as possible to facilitate intestinal transit and hydrating generously with electrolyte -rich drinks. Vegetables are not necessarily digestible, but gradually offering them can be useful. Returning to a normal diet gradually after illness is important without rushing the metabolism. If episodes of diarrhea recur regularly it is important to understand the cause of this disorder; it may be due to an intolerance to lactose (dairy products), lack of fiber in the foods consumed, or a bacteria or infection. In any case, seek advice from your healthcare professional if this symptom persists.
