Manage Dehydration at Home

Dehydration mostly happens when you have Diarrhea or if you keep on vomiting. So I've done some research on how to manage dehydration at home. Dehydration is very important since you would lose a large amount of electrolytes that helps regulate different functions of your body.

Symptoms
  • poor skin turgor
  • thirsty
  • dry skin
  • low capillary refill
How to detect "poor skin turgor"?
How to detect your skin turgor is easy. Just pinch a part of your skin (not to hard) vertically, mostly a part of your arm then release. Observe, if your skin goes back immediately then you have a good skin turgor if not, then you have a poor skin turgor.

How to detect "low capillary refill"?
Sounds hard but its really quite easy. Pinch one of your fingernails (not so hard) just enough for it to turn white. Now, release if your nail doesn't return to a pinkish color within 3 second, then you have a low capillary refill.

Note: If you vomited more than thrice please see a doctor immediately.
If your diarrhea doesn't stop please see a doctor immediately.

Coping Tips for Dehydration
1. Try oral rehydration therapy (ORT).
In some countries you can usually buy a packet of ORT in drugstores, but incase its not available in your country then try this homemade ORT

Just mix the following ingredients:

Ingredients:
4 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 L water

Note: Be sure to eat lots of oranges and bananas to add potassium since its not present in the homemade ORT.

2. Drink a combination of fluids
Aside from water, drink also weak tea with sugar, broth, moderate amounts of fruit juices, defizzed nondiet and non caffeinated soda pop or Gatorade

3. Try to take frequent small drinks; its less irritating to your gut.

4. Eat bland diet.
This is time for toast, rice, noodles, bananas, gelatin, soups, boiled potatoes, cooked carrots, and soda crackers.

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