dehydration abroad

[kitchenmares]

My partner didnt drink enough in hot weather and suffered headaches, lack of energy and exhaustion. Drinking plenty of water for 3 days he was almost back to normal. If salt was put in the water would he have recovered quicker?

[I_Tried]

Kitchemares,

There is no quick fix solution to dehydration but to drink and drink and also depending what else your partner suffered as a cause of the dehydration. I f for exapmle he had diaorreaha and was vomiting as well the addition of salt would have worsened his condition rather than made him better quicker.

So its sometimes easier just to go with the basic rememdy as trying to hurry the course of things could result in matters becoming worse.

Hope that helped if not I_Tried xx 

[Laurinha]

Salt water solution is really good if you are dehydrated and have really bad diah, dhia... poos!

[Golem]

Lauraha's answer needs some clarification.

The cells in our body are made up of a very slightly salty solution. The salt content is 0.9%, a small but crucially important amount that enables the cell to function normally. When someone becomes dehydrated the missing fluid is artificially replaced in hospital by setting up an 'intravenous drip' with a bag of "normal saline". This bag of water also has a salt content of 0.9% and is therefore known as an 'isotonic' solution. The saline replaces fluid but maintains the bodies normal electrolyte balance. Drinking glasses of salt water runs the very serious risk of causing additional dehydration if the salt content is too concentrated, and this is impossible to regulate at home, I would suggest. In order to dilute this new input of salt water the body will let some of the water from the cells leak out to balance the equation. The cells now begin to suffer real harm because they do not have the right chemical make-up to do their job.

This is why a thirsty person doesn't get relief from sea water, the salt concentrate is just way too much. Most people can rehydrate themselves by drinking regular water and the body extracting salt from normal dietary foods. Stuff like Gatorade is well made because it does replace missing electrolytes, so these would be a much better option than a glass of salt water. Be very cautious doing that in a dehydrated person.

[Chessman]

Your obviously thinking he was suffering from heat exhaustion, if he had stopped sweating when nomally he should be, then that is a good pointer, you can buy salt tablets, but they should be taken as perscribed. Take advice from the nurse at you GPs, or a chemist.