Dehydration: A Stealthy Mimic
There is a stealthy health issue that is relatively easy to remedy but sometimes difficult to recognize because many of its symptoms mimic those of other diseases. This mystery malady is dehydration.
During her summer breaks, my daughter, Val, worked as a dude wrangler at a local equestrian center. One day, she came home complaining of dizziness, fatigue, abdominal distress, and vomiting. I suggested maybe she wasn't drinking enough fluids to keep her hydrated during her long days in the heat. Instead, she insisted we go to a doctor to find out what was really going on.
After a lengthy examination and a $250 fee, we went home with no conclusive answer. Even though she swore she wasn’t pregnant, the doctor insisted upon a test. It was required for any child-bearing-aged woman presenting with Val's symptoms.
In all fairness, the doctor was a field intern from UC Davis Medical School. Hopefully, she will learn how to look beyond her checklist of symptoms and discern one disease from another.
Some conditions that appear to be pregnancy are menopause, ovarian cancer or tumors, an enlarged uterus, and even eating disorders. Sadly, the usual response toward a woman presenting with certain symptoms is that she is pregnant. This prejudice can lead to dangerous consequences and a waste of time in achieving proper and timely medical care.
Thus, I returned to my original diagnosis: dehydration.
At the time, Val was teaching riding lessons and had clocked herself walking over twelve miles a day. Temperatures were in the high 80s and 90s with few breaks out of the heat. Humidity levels in Truckee, where we lived then, were low. Between her physical exertion and weather conditions, I suggested she increase her fluid intake. (She was acclimated to high altitude, by the way.)
"Humor me, Val. We've heard from the doc. Now listen to you're old, grey-haired, uneducated mother."
This whole incident frustrated me because I knew the answer before the medical visit. Even my consultations with Dr. Google led me to conclude that long days of physical labor in the heat can lead to dehydration. It was simple logic, but for some reason, the doctor-in-training couldn't think outside her memorized protocol.
One online site listed many of Val's symptoms, including:
Headache
Dizziness
Dark colored urine
Nausea
Vomiting
Intense thirst
Low blood pressure
Inability to urinate and sweat
Chills
Sluggishness
Wrinkled skin
Fatigue
Weakness
No surprise that Val's symptoms subsided with proper hydration.
Dehydration isn't just about keeping body tissues moistened. This condition can cause an imbalance of electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium and magnesium. These three elements are especially important for muscular and nerve health.
A medical experience I had a few years earlier convinced me further about Val's condition. I was amazed at how important it is to keep electrolytes in balance.
It was August when I experienced muscular aches so intense it was difficult to stand erect. I staggered into my chiropractor's office hunched over like Quasimodo. When he didn’t find any misalignment, he suggested my electrolytes may be unbalanced. His prescription: eat lots of leafy greens and drink sports beverages designed to replace electrolytes. He emphasized the greens should come from as close to the ground as possible and are preferable to the sports drinks. While they would help, they've become more sugary over time.
Following his advice, I returned to his office three days later, walking upright and free of pain and muscle tension. We joked that it was his “Lazarus cure.” All I did was eat lots of salad and drink Gatorade. Later, I read a comparison of sports drinks vs. fruit juices and learned that orange juice is far superior in replacing electrolytes. Add a lime, including the rind, and you've got a power drink.
Another sneaky aspect we often don't consider is humidity. Those who live in arid places, like the American Southwest, usually carry fluid containers even if they spend their time indoors. Desert air can suck the moisture out of your body without you noticing. Air conditioning also has a dehydrating affect. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, you're sapped of energy.
By that time, you’re already dehydrated. That’s what is so stealthy about this condition. It can make you feel lousy very quickly. Continue to ignore the situation and you may end up in the hospital with severe dehydration or heat stroke.
As Val and I learned from our experiences, making sure we drink enough liquids to compensate for what’s lost through exertion, temperature, and aridity, as well as fever or infection, will help maintain a proper balance of electrolytes.
If you enjoyed this essay, feel free to explore more poems, essays, and stories in the Ring Around the Basin Archive. Also, i lost to read your comments. Let’s start a conversation.
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Oh gosh - thank you so, so much for this, Sue. I don't drink nearly enough, and reading this post has made me realise that I'd probably feel a whole lot better if I DO.
I'm going to take care of that, starting right now. Thank you. xxx
One of the big killers of under-5 children in many countries is diarrheal disease which leads to dehydration and too often, death. Pouring water down the child is not enough. Electrolytes are necessary.
I keep a close eye on my old guys during summer. Most don’t drink nearly enough water, but will usually drink Gatorade. When I’m out on the trail, l closely track my water consumption and add WHO/UNICEF oral rehydration salts one can buy inexpensively on Amazon. They are not luscious, but they do the job and cost a fraction of what the fufu type rehydration mixes cost.
Moreover, if they are good enough for an African child, they are good enough for me.