Our body needs a certain amount of fluid for better function. With enough water, the cells remain healthy and carry out their function. Fluid deficiency in the body is termed dehydration.
Dehydration is a serious condition that might occur due to cancer or other reasons. Dehydration caused due chemotherapy can be serious if the symptoms are not managed on time.
Staying hydrated provides nutrients to the cells and cleans the bladder and prevents constipation. Staying hydrated minimizes the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. It also prevents the delay of treatment.
If dehydration is not managed on time it can lead to complications such as seizures, swelling in the brain, shock, coma, problems in the kidney.
Side effects of cancer and treatment of cancer might cause dehydration. Some of the causes of dehydration in cancer patients are –
Signs of dehydration caused due to chemotherapy are dizziness, dark urine, and dry mouth and skin. Other sign and symptoms are –
1.Pull your skin and if it stands as a tent, you are dehydrated. Apart from this no urine output, dry mouth, dark urine, headache, dizziness, loose skin are the symptoms of dehydration.
2.Monitor the fluid intake and the urine output. It helps you give a piece of detailed information to the doctor.
3.If you are not able to drink water, intake of ice or taking a small sip of water helps.
4.If you observe symptoms of dehydration increase the fluid intake.
Dehydration caused due to chemotherapy is severe. The best management for chemotherapy dehydration is to prevent it.
Increase the amount of fluid intake.
If you have signs and symptoms of dehydration then stop or minimize any loss of fluid.
If you are a cancer patient and experience confusion, irregular heart rate, excessive sleep, have blue lips then you must notify your doctor immediately. It is always recommended to consult the health care provider for on time management of health issues.
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