When people get sick with illnesses like the flu, vomiting, and diarrhea, dehydration can become a dangerous risk. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. Water makes up 60% of body weight, so maintaining proper hydration levels is essential for health. Dehydration develops progressively and can become a medical emergency if severe. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and treat dehydration, including oral rehydration solutions like sports drinks.
What causes dehydration when sick?
Several common illnesses can lead to dehydration, especially those involving fluid loss. Frequent vomiting and diarrhea from stomach viruses deplete fluids and electrolytes from the body. Fevers from any illness increase water loss through sweating. Poor intake due to sore throat or lack of appetite also contributes to dehydration when sick.
Some of the illnesses most likely to cause dehydration include:
- Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)
- Food poisoning
- Stomach bugs
- Norovirus
- Rotavirus
- Cholera
- Dysentery
- Influenza
- Common cold
- Strep throat
When the body loses more water than it takes in, it becomes out of balance. Even a loss of 1-2% of body weight as fluid can cause dehydration symptoms. The ongoing loss of gastric fluids during illness quickly ramps up water and electrolyte deficits.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
Dehydration produces several characteristic signs and symptoms. Recognizing these early is key to preventing severe dehydration. Symptoms generally start mild but can quickly escalate if fluids aren’t replaced. Common dehydration symptoms include:
- Thirst
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue and weakness
- Dizziness
- Palpitations (feeling fluttering in the chest)
- Confusion
- Sluggishness
- Fainting
- Sunken eyes
- Skin tents when pinched
- Dark yellow urine
- Low urine output
- Dry skin
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
What are the stages of dehydration?
Doctors classify dehydration into three levels based on severity:
Mild dehydration
Symptoms are mostly nuisance and performance impacting but not immediately dangerous. There is no urgent need for emergency intervention. Mild dehydration signs include:
- Thirst
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Flush skin
- Dark yellow urine
- Infrequent urination
Moderate dehydration
Symptoms become more concerning and performance impacting. Urgent fluid and electrolyte replacement is needed to prevent progression to severe dehydration. Moderate dehydration typically involves:
- Extreme thirst
- Very dry mouth and mucous membranes
- Little or no urination
- Sunken eyes
- Wrinkled skin
- Lethargy, confusion
- Unsteady gait
Severe dehydration
This is a life-threatening medical emergency requiring IV fluids and hospitalization. Symptoms become extreme and include:
- Inability to drink
- Altered consciousness
- Shock
- Minimal or no urine output
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate and respirations
- Kidney failure
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
How does dehydration impact health when sick?
Dehydration can severely impact health when sick. Water is essential for every cell and organ to function normally. As dehydration progresses, the body struggles to maintain homeostasis. Impacts include:
- Cardiovascular: Blood thickens and clots easier. Heart rate and workload increase to compensate. Shock can develop.
- Respiratory: Mucous membranes dry out leading to thick secretions. Inability to clear secretions increases pneumonia risk.
- Gastrointestinal: Risk of constipation and impacted bowels increases. Digestion suffers without adequate fluids.
- Renal: Kidneys struggle as urine output decreases. Waste product clearance suffers.
- Neurologic: Brains shrinks and pulls on meninges causing headaches. Mental status changes occur as function suffers.
- Integument: Dry skin and lips increase infection risk. Poor turgor and tenting occur as fluid leaves the intravascular space.
- Endocrine: Electrolyte balance is disrupted. Glucose regulation impaired increasing infection risk.
- Immune: White blood cell and antibody function decrease allowing illness progression and secondary infections.
If severe dehydration goes unchecked, it can result in dire consequences including permanent organ damage, brain damage, and death. Keeping hydration status optimized is key when fighting any illness.
How can dehydration be prevented when sick?
Preventing dehydration during illness comes down to taking in more fluids than are being lost. Tips for keeping hydrated include:
- Drinking fluids at the first sign of illness before dehydration sets in.
- Sipping small amounts of fluid frequently instead of guzzling large amounts at once.
- Setting reminders to drink fluids when feeling poorly.
- Having fluids within easy reach at all times.
- Avoiding excess alcohol and caffeinated beverages that have diuretic effects.
- Monitoring urine output and color.
- Choosing fluids that contain electrolytes.
- Eating foods with high water content.
- Weighing yourself daily to check for water loss.
- Seeking medical attention at the first signs of moderate dehydration.
Taking proactive steps when illness strikes can effectively prevent the dangerous impacts of dehydration.
What are the best drinks for dehydration when sick?
The ideal drinks to prevent and treat dehydration contain water, electrolytes, carbohydrates, and low acidity. Some good choices include:
- Oral rehydration solutions: Scientifically formulated drinks like Pedialyte contain optimal levels of salts and glucose to pull fluid into vascular spaces and promote absorption in the small intestine. They are recommended by healthcare providers to treat moderate dehydration.
- Sports drinks: Drinks like Gatorade and Powerade contain sodium, potassium, and 14g carb/8 oz serving. The sugars and electrolytes enhance intestinal fluid absorption compared to plain water.
- Broths: Warm, salty broth pulls fluid into the bloodstream effectively and provides hydration along with nutrition.
- Juices: While juice shouldn’t be the sole hydration source due to acidity, it can provide hydration along with nutrients and energy from natural sugars.
- Teas: Warm tea can soothe sore throats and provides fluid intake. Herbal varieties like chamomile are great choices.
- Decaffeinated drinks: Decaf coffee, tea, and soda provide hydration without stimulating diuresis.
- Coconut water: The naturally occurring electrolytes make coconut water an ideal choice for rehydration.
- Soups: Like broth, soups hydrate through natural sodium content while providing nutrients.
- Frozen ice pops: Great for getting fluids down when too nauseated to drink.
Does Gatorade help with dehydration when sick?
Yes, Gatorade can be an effective drink for preventing and treating dehydration when sick for several key reasons:
- Electrolytes – Gatorade contains key electrolytes – sodium, potassium, and chloride – that are lost through diarrhea, vomiting, and sweating during illness. Electrolyte replacement helps pull fluid into the vascular space.
- Carbohydrates – Gatorade contains 14 grams of carbohydrate per 8 ounce serving. The sugars enhance the small intestine’s ability to absorb water through active glucose transport.
- Palatability – The flavoring and sweetness of Gatorade makes it easy to drink adequate volumes compared to bland oral rehydration solutions.
- Low acidity – Sports drinks like Gatorade are less acidic than sodas and juices, making them gentle on upset stomachs.
- Osmolarity – Gatorade’s osmolarity (concentration of particles) optimizes how readily the body absorbs the fluid.
Research confirms Gatorade’s benefits for preventing and treating dehydration compared to plain water when sick:
Study 1
- Patients with acute diarrhea and dehydration given Gatorade vs. cola vs. oral rehydration solution.
- Results: Gatorade rehydrated patients effectively and reduced stool output compared to cola.
Study 2
- Cholera patients rehydrated with Gatorade vs. oral rehydration solution.
- Results: Gatorade rehydrated patients similarly to oral rehydration solution.
Study 3
- Gatorade tested for rehydrating children with mild diarrhea and vomiting.
- Results: Gatorade successfully rehydrated the children and was well tolerated.
While Gatorade can help restore fluids and electrolytes when sick, it does have some limitations:
- Not a complete replacement for medical rehydration solutions for severe dehydration.
- Does not contain zinc, an important electrolyte for recovery.
- High sugar content not ideal for diabetics.
- Does not contain optimal sodium levels for severe dehydration.
- Acidity may worsen nausea in some.
For moderate dehydration, Gatorade offers an accessible, economical, and effective rehydration beverage option. But oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte remain the first-line choice when medical dehydration treatment is needed.
How much Gatorade should you drink when dehydrated?
The recommended Gatorade intake depends on your degree of dehydration and needs. General guidelines suggest:
- Mild dehydration: 20-24 oz of Gatorade every 1-2 hours
- Moderate dehydration: 32-64 oz of Gatorade over 3-4 hours
- Severe dehydration: Up to 9L in a hospital setting over 24 hours
For mild illness-related dehydration, starting with a 20 oz Gatorade every hour is reasonable. Sip slowly rather than guzzling to avoid an upset stomach. For moderate dehydration, rapidly drinking larger volumes may be needed, but avoid overfilling your stomach.
Monitor urine output, thirst, and other hydration markers to determine if more fluid is needed. Stick to water or decaf/herbal tea once dehydration resolves to avoid excess sugar intake. Consult a doctor if symptoms worsen despite Gatorade administration. With severe dehydration, IV fluids and hospitalization are necessary.
Precautions when using Gatorade for dehydration
While Gatorade can effectively combat mild-moderate dehydration, taking certain precautions optimizes its safe use:
- Avoid using Gatorade as the sole intervention for severe dehydration or shock. Seek medical treatment immediately in these cases.
- Don’t force heavy Gatorade intake if experiencing nausea or vomiting. Small, gradual sips are best tolerated.
- Monitor carbohydrate intake if diabetic, since Gatorade contains 14g sugar per serving.
- Avoid using Gatorade with delirium, altered mental status, or inability to control intake. Risk of aspiration exists.
- Recognize that fruit punch and citrus flavors have more acidity, making them harder to tolerate with nausea.
- Don’t give Gatorade to infants under 6 months old due to immature kidneys.
- Watch for wheezing, coughing, or choking, and discontinue Gatorade if observed.
- Consult a doctor if dehydration symptoms don’t improve or worsen after starting Gatorade.
By following responsible precautions, Gatorade can safely and effectively combat common forms of dehydration from illness.
The bottom line
Dehydration is a common consequence of gastrointestinal illnesses that deplete fluids and electrolytes through vomiting and diarrhea. Sports drinks like Gatorade can be an effective way to restore hydration and electrolyte balance in mild-moderate dehydration, while also being easier to consume than bland oral rehydration solutions. However, Gatorade should not serve as a replacement for medical treatment in severe dehydration. With responsible precautions, Gatorade can provide accessible, economical hydration when sick, helping prevent the dangerous complications of dehydration. Monitoring fluid status, titrating intake appropriately, and seeking medical care when indicated remains imperative.
References
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Seidman JC, Bourke CD, Issac DM, et al. Evaluate Contribution of Gatorade to Rehydration in Children with Mild Gastroenteritis. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2018
Rao SS, Summers RW, Rao GR, Ramana S, Minocha A, Carroll L. Oral rehydration for viral gastroenteritis in adults: a randomized, controlled trial of 3 solutions. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2006;30(5):433–439. doi:10.1177/0148607106030005433
Duggan C, Refat M, Hashem M, Wolff M, Fayad I, Santosham M. How valid are clinical signs of dehydration in infants? J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1996;22(1):56-61. doi:10.1097/00005176-199601000-00010
Patel A. Dehydration: When to treat and what to use. The Pharmaceutical Journal. 2018. doi:10.1211/PJ.2018.20204578
Carpenter CC, Talley NJ, Erb SR, et al. A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled evaluation of the effect of oral rehydration solution on stool output and duration of diarrhea in adults with acute diarrhea. Gastroenterology. 1996;110(4). doi:10.1016/s0016-5085(96)82376-2
