Dehydration

If you think you may be dehydrated, the first thing you should do is seek out rest, shade, and water. If, after this, your symptoms haven’t gotten better or have gotten worse, you may want to visit MedNorth Urgent Care. When you visit our clinic, we’ll quickly get you checked in so we can review your symptoms, medical history, and run a few tests using our state-of-the-art in-office laboratory system. From there, we’ll create a treatment plan that will likely begin with intravenous (IV) rehydration fluids. These fluids contain a combination of chlorine and sodium, which replenish the electrolytes you’ve lost. Based on the severity of your dehydration and the results of your lab work, further treatment may be needed, but we often find that the IV fluids are successful.

What is the best way to treat dehydration?

The only way to treat dehydration is to replenish the fluids your body has lost. Drinking water, electrolyte beverages and sports drinks, clear broths, frozen ice pops, etc., are all great ways to rehydrate your body. For more extreme cases of dehydration or faster rehydration, IV fluid drips at MedNorth Kalispell Urgent Care Clinic provide rapid, effective rehydration to help return your body to a proper balance.

How long does it take to rehydrate your body?

Rehydration can typically begin within five minutes after drinking liquids. With an IV drip, rehydration is nearly instantaneous.

What should you avoid if you’re dehydrated?

If you are dehydrated, you should avoid sodas, tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages since they are diuretics, meaning they pull liquids from your body and stimulate urination.

How much water should you drink every day?

According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men need about 15 cups (3.7L) and women about 11 cups (2.7L) of water every day to stay properly hydrated. Around 20% of this recommended daily fluid intake comes from the food you eat.

Sickness, heat, excessive sweating, a lot of exercise or activity, and more can lead to dehydration. Dehydration could cause lightheadedness, a dry mouth, excessive thirst, headaches, extreme fatigue, and more, and if left untreated, it could cause damage to the kidneys, heart, and even the brain. That’s why, at MedNorth Urgent Care Clinic, we suggest seeking out help immediately if you notice signs of dehydration that do not go away with rest and water intake. At our Kalispell, MT facility, Drs. Shane Hill and Scott Rundle and their skilled medical staff offer effective treatment for dehydration and more.