Tag Archives: dehydration

Straight, No Chaser: Malnutrition

February 6, 2018Diet and Nutrition, Health Prevention844-SMA-TALK, Behind the Curtain, dehydration, Diarrhea, malnutrition, Sterling Medical Advice, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Straight No Chaser, There are 72 Hours in a DayJeffrey Sterling, MD

Do you know someone so poor that eating is a constant concern? Do you have a child who is a finicky eater? Have you ever been concerned that your child might become malnourished? Whether or not your thoughts have reached the level of concern, you should be aware of the notion. After all, malnutrition is directly responsible for 300,000 deaths per year in children younger than 5 years old, especially in developing countries. It is the number one cause of child deaths across the world, contributing directly or indirectly to over half of all deaths in children. According to the UN World Food Programme, 925 million people in the world do not have enough to eat.
What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition is a state of being in which the body fails to receive adequate nutrition, and this state prevents proper health and development.
Causes of Malnutrition
All over the world, the poor are at the greatest risk malnutrition. Wars and natural disasters such as droughts, tsunamis, hurricanes and earthquakes can have disruptive effects on food production and distribution, contributing to hunger and subsequent malnutrition.
Also those who can’t respond to the body’s hunger signals (e.g. due to injury or loss of extremity use while living without adequate support; aging or other illness may reduce appetite) are at risk for malnutrition. However, someone can become malnourished for reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. You can still be malnourished even relatively having plenty to eat if the foods consumed don’t provide the right nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Another consideration in malnutrition is the presence of a disease or conditions that prevents you from digesting or absorbing your food properly. For example:

Someone with celiac disease has intestinal problems that are triggered by a gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.
Those with cystic fibrosis have trouble absorbing nutrients because the disease affects the pancreas and its ability to produce enzymes necessary for digestion.

Malnutrition can be limited to a specific nutritional deficiency. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that as many 2 billion people worldwide have insufficient dietary intake of nutrients like iron, vitamin A, and zinc.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. You may be aware that this deficiency causes anemia and can retard development in kids.
Vitamin A deficiency from malnutrition is the chief cause of preventable blindness in the developing world; it also increases the risk of dying from infections, from measles, or diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of malnutrition?

Malnutrition negatively impacts both the body and the mind; as such, a variety of symptoms are produced.

Hunger is a sign that your body needs food. You need food to assist your various organs in performing adequately.
If you’re malnourished, your immunity is reduced. This means you more likely to become sick from a variety of causes.
Malnourished individuals are likely to be significantly underweight.
Malnourished children’s growth may be stunted, making them much shorter than average.

Other symptoms include the following:

Abnormal bodily organ function
Decaying teeth
Dizziness
Dry, scaly skin
Fatigue and low energy
Learning difficulty
Muscle weakness
Osteoporosis (fragile bones that break easily)
Poor attention span
Stomach bloating
Swollen and bleeding gums
Slowed reaction times

Those pregnant and malnourished, may have offspring that weigh less at birth and have a lower chance of survival.
Addressing hunger and malnutrition

There are two considerations here: limiting your risk and treating hunger and malnutrition.

In the U.S., foods are typically fortified with vitamins and minerals to prevent certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, adding iodine to salt helps prevent some thyroid gland problems (such as goiter), folic acid added to foods helps prevent certain birth defects, and supplemental iron can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Alcohol can interfere with nutrient absorption such that even if vitamins and minerals are consumed, alcoholics can still develop deficiencies. It’s more likely that alcoholics aren’t engaging in healthy eating habits.
Vegetarians, vegans and others on special diets should be mindful to eat balanced meals and a variety of foods to get the right nutrients.

Treating Malnourished Children

Fortunately, many of the harmful effects of malnutrition can be reversed, especially if a child is only mildly or briefly malnourished. You don’t need a pill. Learn to engage in healthy eating habits, which can be done at any budget. The best way to ensure that kids are properly nourished is to serve a variety of healthy foods. Try to limit unhealthy snacks and those empty calories that make them feel full prior to getting adequate nutrition with their meal. If you’re concerned that your child’s energy level is lagging or that he or she isn’t growing normally, ask your physician for an evaluation.
If you think your child isn’t getting enough of the right nutrients, talk to your doctor. Fortunately, many effects of malnutrition can be reversed if it’s early in the process. Unfortunately, too often malnourished children aren’t discovered until the effects of malnutrition have permitted other illnesses to take hold.

As a final thought, please consider supporting one of the entities dedicated to combating hunger. To support Feeding America, visit their site at http://feedingamerica.org. Around the world, you can support organizations such as Hunger Relief International; visit their site at www.hungerreliefinternational.org.

Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2018 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Malnutrition

September 18, 2017Health Prevention, General Health and Wellness, Diet and NutritionDiarrhea, dehydration, Behind the Curtain, 844-SMA-TALK, malnutrition, Sterling Medical Advice, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Straight No Chaser, There are 72 Hours in a DayJeffrey Sterling, MD

Another consideration in malnutrition is the presence of a disease or conditions that prevents you from digesting or absorbing your food properly. For example:

Someone with celiac disease has intestinal problems that are triggered by a gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.
Those with cystic fibrosis have trouble absorbing nutrients because the disease affects the pancreas and its ability to produce enzymes necessary for digestion.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. You may be aware that this deficiency causes anemia and can retard development in kids.
Vitamin A deficiency from malnutrition is the chief cause of preventable blindness in the developing world; it also increases the risk of dying from infections, from measles, or diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of malnutrition?

Malnutrition negatively impacts both the body and the mind; as such, a variety of symptoms are produced.

Hunger is a sign that your body needs food. You need food to assist your various organs in performing adequately.
If you’re malnourished, your immunity is reduced. This means you more likely to become sick from a variety of causes.
Malnourished individuals are likely to be significantly underweight.
Malnourished children’s growth may be stunted, making them much shorter than average.

Other symptoms include the following:

Abnormal bodily organ function
Decaying teeth
Dizziness
Dry, scaly skin
Fatigue and low energy
Learning difficulty
Muscle weakness
Osteoporosis (fragile bones that break easily)
Poor attention span
Stomach bloating
Swollen and bleeding gums
Slowed reaction times

Those pregnant and malnourished, may have offspring that weigh less at birth and have a lower chance of survival.
Addressing hunger and malnutrition

There are two considerations here: limiting your risk and treating hunger and malnutrition.

In the U.S., foods are typically fortified with vitamins and minerals to prevent certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, adding iodine to salt helps prevent some thyroid gland problems (such as goiter), folic acid added to foods helps prevent certain birth defects, and supplemental iron can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Alcohol can interfere with nutrient absorption such that even if vitamins and minerals are consumed, alcoholics can still develop deficiencies. It’s more likely that alcoholics aren’t engaging in healthy eating habits.
Vegetarians, vegans and others on special diets should be mindful to eat balanced meals and a variety of foods to get the right nutrients.

Treating Malnourished Children

Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Dehydration – When You’re Too Dry to Cry

July 1, 2017General Health and Wellness, EnvironmentalStraight No Chaser, There are 72 Hours in a Day, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Sterling Medical Advice, dehydration, Behind the Curtain, 844-SMA-TALKJeffrey Sterling, MD

Dehydration is one of those topics that illustrates the adage “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”— except I would adjust that to suggest a little of the wrong type of knowledge is dangerous. In this Straight, No Chaser, we’ll provide you with enough information to recognize and act on dehydration when it becomes significant or severe, because the first thing you should know is dehydration can be a life-threatening emergency. In fact dehydration due to diarrheal diseases remains the one of the topic five causes of death in the world.
Simply put, you’re dehydrated when your body is lacking in the amount of fluids it needs. This can occur from losing fluid (as occurs with excessive vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, urination or other losses), from insufficient fluid intake (as occurs with nausea, a loss of appetite, eating disorders, etc.) or from a combination of both.
Let’s approach the rest of the conversation simply by answering seven commonly asked questions.
1. Who’s at risk/what places me at risk?

Infants, children, the elderly and the ill are at particular risk for dehydration (and add yourself if you work outdoors during hot summer months). Children simply have lower fluid amounts than adults, and fluid losses is kids proportionately cause greater effects. All the above risk groups share the habit of a more rapid utilization and/or turnover of fluids, requiring higher fluid intake.
2. How can I prevent dehydration?
This is relatively easy. Drink plenty of fluids every day and even more when exercising or losing fluids (e.g., menstruating, sweating on hot days, exercising or if you’re suffering from vomiting or diarrhea).
3. How can I recognize when I’m dehydrated?
You will do a good job of preventing dehydration if you learn the early signs, including those less severe items listed in the above picture. You will do an even better job if you don’t wait until signs develop to begin rehydration. Specifically, sipping fluids is generally recommended for anyone with vomiting, diarrhea or a febrile illness.
4. When should I treat possible dehydration?
Here are a few scenarios that should prompt treatment.

There is less frequent wetting of diapers in children and urination in those older.
There is a relative absence/reduction of saliva and/or tears.
In infants, the eyes or the soft spot on the top of the head (the fontanelles) may be sunken.
You’re having diarrhea and/or vomiting, particularly when you seemingly can’t keep any food down.

5. How can I treat my dehydration?
Here are some key points for you to understand.

IV fluids may be necessary for moderate to severe dehydration. However, IV fluids are not necessary to treat most cases of dehydration. In fact, IVs are rarely used to treat dehydration in the rest of the world outside of the U.S.
You will do much better treating dehydration if you sip instead of guzzle. If you’re vomiting, and your stomach is “upset,” you likely will precipitate more vomiting if you take in large amounts of fluids at a time. Think in terms of teaspoons or syringes of fluid.
You may have heard that electrolyte solutions aren’t the best for rehydrating yourself, but in fact water replacement without electrolytes isn’t what you want to attempt ideally. All things considered, electrolyte solutions and “freezer pops” are very effective for basic considerations of addressing hydration.
The next time you’re at your local pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to show you some rehydration solutions. These are especially effective.

6. When do I need to see a physician for dehydration?
You or your loved one may be in the midst of a life-threatening condition if you’re light-headed, confused, dizzy, lethargic or have blacked out. This should prompt a 911 call or an immediate visit to the emergency room.
There are multiple other symptoms that should prompt you to contact your physician. Here are some of them, in addition to those listed in the previous questions.

You are sick and can’t keep down fluids, even when you’re sipping.
Vomiting has continued for more than 24 hours in an adult or more than 12 hours in a child.
Diarrhea has continued for more than five days.
You have bloody stools or vomit.
You notice an abnormally fast heartbeat.
Your infant has dry skin that sags back into position slowly when pinched up into a fold.
You or your child has little or no urine output for eight hours.
You notice irritability or less activity in your infant or child.

7. What’s the worst that can happen?

Dehydration can lead to death and other severe disturbances, including coma, brain damage, seizures, and shock. Just understand that if you think you could be dehydrated, you should be drinking fluids.
Remember: dehydration is something seemingly simple that can go horrible wrong if unattended. The better news is when you do enact preventive and early treatment measures, outcomes are generally very good. Feel free to refer to this information when the need arises. You can always contact your SMA expert consultant at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com or 844-SMA-TALK for any questions you have on this or any other topic.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Malnutrition

September 27, 2016Diet and Nutrition, General Health and Wellness, Public HealthStraight No Chaser, 844-SMA-TALK, Behind the Curtain, dehydration, Diarrhea, malnutrition, Sterling Medical Advice, SterlingMedicalAdvice.comJeffrey Sterling, MD

Another consideration in malnutrition is the presence of a disease or conditions that prevents you from digesting or absorbing your food properly. For example:

Someone with celiac disease has intestinal problems that are triggered by a gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.
Those with cystic fibrosis have trouble absorbing nutrients because the disease affects the pancreas and its ability to produce enzymes necessary for digestion.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. You may be aware that this deficiency causes anemia and can retard development in kids.
Vitamin A deficiency from malnutrition is the chief cause of preventable blindness in the developing world; it also increases the risk of dying from infections, from measles, or diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of malnutrition?

Malnutrition negatively impacts both the body and the mind; as such, a variety of symptoms are produced.

Hunger is a sign that your body needs food. You need food to assist your various organs in performing adequately.
If you’re malnourished, your immunity is reduced. This means you more likely to become sick from a variety of causes.
Malnourished individuals are likely to be significantly underweight.
Malnourished children’s growth may be stunted, making them much shorter than average.

Other symptoms include the following:

Abnormal bodily organ function
Decaying teeth
Dizziness
Dry, scaly skin
Fatigue and low energy
Learning difficulty
Muscle weakness
Osteoporosis (fragile bones that break easily)
Poor attention span
Stomach bloating
Swollen and bleeding gums
Slowed reaction times

Those pregnant and malnourished, may have offspring that weigh less at birth and have a lower chance of survival.
Addressing hunger and malnutrition

There are two considerations here: limiting your risk and treating hunger and malnutrition.

In the U.S., foods are typically fortified with vitamins and minerals to prevent certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, adding iodine to salt helps prevent some thyroid gland problems (such as goiter), folic acid added to foods helps prevent certain birth defects, and supplemental iron can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Alcohol can interfere with nutrient absorption such that even if vitamins and minerals are consumed, alcoholics can still develop deficiencies. It’s more likely that alcoholics aren’t engaging in healthy eating habits.
Vegetarians, vegans and others on special diets should be mindful to eat balanced meals and a variety of foods to get the right nutrients.

Treating Malnourished Children

Feel free to ask any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2016 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Dehydration – When You’re Too Dry to Cry

July 1, 2016General Health and Wellness, Environmental844-SMA-TALK, Behind the Curtain, dehydration, Sterling Medical Advice, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Straight No ChaserJeffrey Sterling, MD

Dehydration is one of those topics that illustrates the adage “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”— except I would adjust that to suggest a little of the wrong type of knowledge is dangerous. In this Straight, No Chaser, we’ll provide you with enough information to recognize and act on dehydration when it becomes significant or severe, because the first thing you should know is dehydration can be a life-threatening emergency. In fact dehydration due to diarrheal diseases remains the one of the topic five causes of death in the world.
Simply put, you’re dehydrated when your body is lacking in the amount of fluids it needs. This can occur from losing fluid (as occurs with excessive vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, urination or other losses), from insufficient fluid intake (as occurs with nausea, a loss of appetite, eating disorders, etc.) or from a combination of both.
Let’s approach the rest of the conversation simply by answering seven commonly asked questions.
1. Who’s at risk/what places me at risk?

Infants, children, the elderly and the ill are at particular risk for dehydration (and add yourself if you work outdoors during hot summer months). Children simply have lower fluid amounts than adults, and fluid losses is kids proportionately cause greater effects. All the above risk groups share the habit of a more rapid utilization and/or turnover of fluids, requiring higher fluid intake.
2. How can I prevent dehydration?
This is relatively easy. Drink plenty of fluids every day and even more when exercising or losing fluids (e.g., menstruating, sweating on hot days, exercising or if you’re suffering from vomiting or diarrhea).
3. How can I recognize when I’m dehydrated?

You will do a good job of preventing dehydration if you learn the early signs, including those less severe items listed in the above picture. You will do an even better job if you don’t wait until signs develop to begin rehydration. Specifically, sipping fluids is generally recommended for anyone with vomiting, diarrhea or a febrile illness.
4. When should I treat possible dehydration?
Here are a few scenarios that should prompt treatment.

There is less frequent wetting of diapers in children and urination in those older.
There is a relative absence/reduction of saliva and/or tears.
In infants, the eyes or the soft spot on the top of the head (the fontanelles) may be sunken.
You’re having diarrhea and/or vomiting, particularly when you seemingly can’t keep any food down.

5. How can I treat my dehydration?
Here are some key points for you to understand.

IV fluids may be necessary for moderate to severe dehydration. However, IV fluids are not necessary to treat most cases of dehydration. In fact, IVs are rarely used to treat dehydration in the rest of the world outside of the U.S.
You will do much better treating dehydration if you sip instead of guzzle. If you’re vomiting, and your stomach is “upset,” you likely will precipitate more vomiting if you take in large amounts of fluids at a time. Think in terms of teaspoons or syringes of fluid.
You may have heard that electrolyte solutions aren’t the best for rehydrating yourself, but in fact water replacement without electrolytes isn’t what you want to attempt ideally. All things considered, electrolyte solutions and “freezer pops” are very effective for basic considerations of addressing hydration.
The next time you’re at your local pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to show you some rehydration solutions. These are especially effective.

You are sick and can’t keep down fluids, even when you’re sipping.
Vomiting has continued for more than 24 hours in an adult or more than 12 hours in a child.
Diarrhea has continued for more than five days.
You have bloody stools or vomit.
You notice an abnormally fast heartbeat.
Your infant has dry skin that sags back into position slowly when pinched up into a fold.
You or your child has little or no urine output for eight hours.
You notice irritability or less activity in your infant or child.

7. What’s the worst that can happen?

Dehydration can lead to death and other severe disturbances, including coma, brain damage, seizures, and shock. Just understand that if you think you could be dehydrated, you should be drinking fluids.
Remember: dehydration is something seemingly simple that can go horrible wrong if unattended. The better news is when you do enact preventive and early treatment measures, outcomes are generally very good. Feel free to refer to this information when the need arises. You can always contact your SMA expert consultant at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com or 844-SMA-TALK for any questions you have on this or any other topic.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2016 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Malnutrition

September 27, 2014Public Health, General Health and Wellness, Diet and Nutrition844-SMA-TALK, Straight No Chaser, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Sterling Medical Advice, malnutrition, Diarrhea, dehydrationJeffrey Sterling, MD

Another consideration in malnutrition is the presence of a disease or conditions that prevents you from digesting or absorbing your food properly. For example:

Someone with celiac disease has intestinal problems that are triggered by a gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.
Those with cystic fibrosis have trouble absorbing nutrients because the disease affects the pancreas and its ability to produce enzymes necessary for digestion.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. You may be aware that this deficiency causes anemia and can retard development in kids.
Vitamin A deficiency from malnutrition is the chief cause of preventable blindness in the developing world; it also increases the risk of dying from infections, from measles, or diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of malnutrition?

Malnutrition negatively impacts both the body and the mind; as such, a variety of symptoms are produced.

Hunger is a sign that your body needs food. You need food to assist your various organs in performing adequately.
If you’re malnourished, your immunity is reduced. This means you more likely to become sick from a variety of causes.
Malnourished individuals are likely to be significantly underweight.
Malnourished children’s growth may be stunted, making them much shorter than average.

Other symptoms include the following:

Abnormal bodily organ function
Decaying teeth
Dizziness
Dry, scaly skin
Fatigue and low energy
Learning difficulty
Muscle weakness
Osteoporosis (fragile bones that break easily)
Poor attention span
Stomach bloating
Swollen and bleeding gums
Slowed reaction times

Those pregnant and malnourished, may have offspring that weigh less at birth and have a lower chance of survival.
Addressing hunger and malnutrition

There are two considerations here: limiting your risk and treating hunger and malnutrition.

In the U.S., foods are typically fortified with vitamins and minerals to prevent certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, adding iodine to salt helps prevent some thyroid gland problems (such as goiter), folic acid added to foods helps prevent certain birth defects, and supplemental iron can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Alcohol can interfere with nutrient absorption such that even if vitamins and minerals are consumed, alcoholics can still develop deficiencies. It’s more likely that alcoholics aren’t engaging in healthy eating habits.
Vegetarians, vegans and others on special diets should be mindful to eat balanced meals and a variety of foods to get the right nutrients.

Treating Malnourished Children

Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offer. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress.

Straight, No Chaser: Dehydration—When You're Too Dry to Cry

January 12, 2014Endocrine/MetabolicStraight No Chaser, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Sterling Medical Advice, dehydrationJeffrey Sterling, MD

Dehydration is one of those topics that illustrates the adage “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”— except I would adjust that to suggest a little of the wrong type of knowledge is dangerous. Hopefully in this post we’ll provide you with enough information to recognize and act on dehydration when it becomes significant or severe, because the first thing you should know is dehydration can be a life-threatening emergency. In fact dehydration due to diarrheal diseases remains the one of the topic five causes of death in the world.
Simply put, you’re dehydrated when your body is lacking in the amount of fluids it needs. This can occur from losing fluid (as occurs with excessive vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, urination or other losses), from insufficient fluid intake (as occurs with nausea, a loss of appetite, eating disorders, etc.) or from a combination of both.
Let’s approach the rest of the conversation simply by answering seven commonly asks questions.
1. Who’s at risk/what places me at risk?
Infants, children, the elderly and the ill are at particular risk for dehydration. Children simply have lower fluid amounts and similar losses proportionately cause greater effects. All of these groups share the habit of a more rapid utilization and/or turnover of fluids, requiring higher intake.
2. How can I prevent dehydration?
This is relatively easy. Drink plenty of fluids every day and even more when exercising or losing fluids (e.g., menstruating, sweating or hot days, exercising or suffering from vomiting or diarrhea).
3. How can I recognize when I’m dehydrated?
You will do a good job of preventing dehydration if you learn the early signs, including those less severe items listed in the lead picture. You will do an even better job if you don’t wait until signs develop to begin rehydration. Specifically, sipping fluids is generally recommended for anyone with vomiting, diarrhea or a febrile illness.
4. When should I treat possible dehydration?
Here are a few scenarios that should prompt treatment.

There is less frequent wetting of diapers in children and urination in those older.
There is a relative absence/reduction of saliva and/or tears.
In infants, the eyes or the soft spot on the top of the head (the fontanelles) may be sunken.
You’re having diarrhea and/or vomiting, particularly when you seemingly can’t keep any food down.

5. How can I treat my dehydration?
Here are some key points for you to understand.

IV fluids may be necessary for moderate to severe dehydration. However, IV fluids are not necessary to treat most cases of dehydration; in fact, IVs are rarely used to treat dehydration in the rest of the world outside of the U.S.
You will do much better treating dehydration if you sip instead of guzzle. If you’re vomiting and your stomach is “upset,” you likely will precipitate more vomiting if you take in large amounts of fluids at a time. Think in terms of teaspoons or syringes of fluid.
You may have heard that electrolyte solutions aren’t the best for rehydrating yourself. That point has value when discussing diarrhea, but all things considered, electrolyte solutions and “freezer pops” are very effective, because water replacement without electrolytes isn’t the most effective means of correcting dehydration.
The next time you’re at your local pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to show you some rehydration solutions. These are especially effective.

You are sick and can’t keep down fluids, even when you’re sipping.
Vomiting has continued for more than 24 hours in an adult or more than 12 hours in a child.
Diarrhea has continued for more than five days.
You have bloody stools or vomit.
You notice an abnormally fast heartbeat.
Your infant has dry skin that sags back into position slowly when pinched up into a fold.
You or your child has little or no urine output for eight hours.
You notice irritability or less activity in your infant or child.

7. What’s the worst that can happen?
Dehydration can lead to death and other severe disturbances, including coma, brain damage, seizures, and shock. Just understand that if you think you could be dehydrated, you should be drinking fluids.
Remember: dehydration is something seemingly simple that can go horrible wrong if unattended. The better news is when you do enact preventive and early treatment measures, outcomes are generally very good. Feel free to refer to this information when the need arises. You can always contact your SMA expert consultant at www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com or 844-SMA-TALK for any questions you have on this or any other topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress