Mild dehydration can look like: Feeling thirsty! (Obvious, but good to keep in mind.) Feeling exhausted/tired/sleepy. Constipation. If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, rehydrate with water and/or an electrolyte solution as soon as possible.

Moderate dehydration brings: Headaches. Dry skin, nose, lips, gums. Sunken eyes. Dark and infrequent urine. (Hydrated pee looks clear/light yellow. Also: Have you peed within the past 8 hours?) If symptoms worsen and you’re struggling to get enough fluid, reach out to a health care team ASAP.

Severe dehydration is serious and can be life-threatening. Confusion or disorientation. No sweat. Loss of appetite and thirst. Fast heart rate and/or low blood pressure. Seizures? Fainting? Disoriented? Having a hard time holding your head up? Call 911 or get to the ER right away.

Dehydration

Hot temperatures, nausea, diarrhea, and other side effects can lead to and exasperate dehydration.

Dehydration

Hot temperatures, nausea, diarrhea, and other side effects can lead to and exasperate dehydration.

Importance of hydration

Hydration is not just a suggestion, it’s critical to your health. Here’s a few things hydration can do for cancer patients:

Help lessen the severity of chemotherapy side effects
Flush your body of toxins and waste
Keep bowels moving and prevent constipation.
Maintain your alertness and awareness.
Optimize your muscular strength and endurance
Make it easier to breathe
Improve mood, increase energy, and lessen irritability
Keep you out of the E.R. due to dehydration
Improve and maintain proper organ function

Staying hydrated takes diligence. If you’re facing diarrhea or vomiting, or if you have an ileostomy, it can be even harder.

Importance of hydration

Hydration is not just a suggestion, it’s critical to your health. Here’s a few things hydration can do for cancer patients:

Help lessen the severity of chemotherapy side effects
Flush your body of toxins and waste
Keep bowels moving and prevent constipation.
Maintain your alertness and awareness.
Optimize your muscular strength and endurance
Make it easier to breathe
Improve mood, increase energy, and lessen irritability
Keep you out of the E.R. due to dehydration
Improve and maintain proper organ function

Staying hydrated takes diligence. If you’re facing diarrhea or vomiting, or if you have an ileostomy, it can be even harder.

Signs of Dehydration

There are mild, moderate, and severe signs of dehydration. Here’s a few of them:

Mildrebuildcrc2024-12-18T18:06:57+00:00

Mild

Mild dehydration can look like:

Feeling thirsty! (Obvious, but good to keep in mind.)
Feeling exhausted/tired/sleepy.
Constipation.

If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, rehydrate with water and/or an electrolyte solution as soon as possible.

Moderaterebuildcrc2024-12-18T18:05:17+00:00

Moderate

Moderate dehydration brings:

Headaches.
Dry skin, nose, lips, gums. Sunken eyes.
Dark and infrequent urine. (Hydrated pee looks clear/light yellow. Also: Have you peed within the past 8 hours?)

If symptoms worsen and you’re struggling to get enough fluid, reach out to a health care team ASAP.

Severerebuildcrc2024-12-18T18:06:32+00:00

Severe

Severe dehydration is serious and can be life-threatening.

Confusion or disorientation.
No sweat.
Loss of appetite and thirst.
Fast heart rate and/or low blood pressure.

Seizures? Fainting? Disoriented? Having a hard time holding your head up? Call 911 or get to the ER right away.

If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, try to rehydrate with water and/or an electrolyte solution as soon as possible.

If symptoms worsen and you’re struggling to get enough fluid, reach out to a health care team ASAP.

Signs of Dehydration

There are mild, moderate, and severe signs of dehydration. Here’s a few of them:

Mildrebuildcrc2024-12-18T18:06:57+00:00

Mild

Mild dehydration can look like:

Feeling thirsty! (Obvious, but good to keep in mind.)
Feeling exhausted/tired/sleepy.
Constipation.

If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, rehydrate with water and/or an electrolyte solution as soon as possible.

Moderaterebuildcrc2024-12-18T18:05:17+00:00

Moderate

Moderate dehydration brings:

Headaches.
Dry skin, nose, lips, gums. Sunken eyes.
Dark and infrequent urine. (Hydrated pee looks clear/light yellow. Also: Have you peed within the past 8 hours?)

If symptoms worsen and you’re struggling to get enough fluid, reach out to a health care team ASAP.

Severerebuildcrc2024-12-18T18:06:32+00:00

Severe

Severe dehydration is serious and can be life-threatening.

Confusion or disorientation.
No sweat.
Loss of appetite and thirst.
Fast heart rate and/or low blood pressure.

Seizures? Fainting? Disoriented? Having a hard time holding your head up? Call 911 or get to the ER right away.

If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, try to rehydrate with water and/or an electrolyte solution as soon as possible.

If symptoms worsen and you’re struggling to get enough fluid, reach out to a health care team ASAP.

Tips for avoiding dehydration

Take a water bottle with you everywhere you go.
Use an app to track fluid intake. Some will even send you push reminders.
Add ice to your drinks (if you don’t have cold sensitivity), or suck on ice.
Take small sips throughout the day. Set a timer to nudge you to sip.
Add electrolyte powder to your water. A few brands our advocates like are H2ORs, Liquid I.V., Nuun, and Gatorade electrolyte packets. Be sure to keep an eye on your sodium intake when using electrolyte powders. If you have heart issues, discuss with your physician before use.
Visit an IV therapy clinic that offers IV nutrition and drip fluids.
Infuse your water with fruit or vegetables, or switch to tea, coffee, sports drinks, slushies, juice boxes, popsicles, or soup if you’re tired of water.

Try to avoid excess caffeine intake, as caffeine can worsen dehydration. The same goes for alcohol.
Stay out of direct sun or take breaks indoors.
Be sure to hydrate before and after strenuous activity.
Ask to meet with a registered dietician. They can help you calculate how much fluid you need and give you tips and tools for hydration.

Tips for avoiding dehydration

Take a water bottle with you everywhere you go.
Use an app to track fluid intake. Some will even send you push reminders.
Add ice to your drinks (if you don’t have cold sensitivity), or suck on ice.
Take small sips throughout the day. Set a timer to nudge you to sip.
Add electrolyte powder to your water. A few brands our advocates like are H2ORs, Liquid I.V., Nuun, and Gatorade electrolyte packets. Be sure to keep an eye on your sodium intake when using electrolyte powders. If you have heart issues, discuss with your physician before use.
Visit an IV therapy clinic that offers IV nutrition and drip fluids.
Infuse your water with fruit or vegetables, or switch to tea, coffee, sports drinks, slushies, juice boxes, popsicles, or soup if you’re tired of water.

Try to avoid excess caffeine intake, as caffeine can worsen dehydration. The same goes for alcohol.
Stay out of direct sun or take breaks indoors.
Be sure to hydrate before and after strenuous activity.
Ask to meet with a registered dietician. They can help you calculate how much fluid you need and give you tips and tools for hydration.