What may increase your risk for a problem from dehydration?
Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.
Conditions
- Age younger than 3 months
- Age older than 60 years
- Breast-feeding
- Burns
- Conditions that cause increased fluid loss, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Stomach and bowel disorders that cause fluid to move through the body too quickly
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
- Mental retardation or another developmental delay
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Dialysis
- Inability to talk or communicate because of another condition, such as Alzheimer's disease or a stroke
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Sports or other activities that increase sweating
- Smoking or other tobacco use
Medicines
- Antihistamines
- Blood pressure medicines
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Diuretics
- Laxatives
- Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
- Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
- Psychiatric medicines
- Radiation therapy
Diseases
- Addison's disease
- Cancer
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diabetes
- Gallbladder disease
- Heart disease
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Hyperthyroidism
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease, such as hepatitis
- Pancreatitis
- Stomach and bowel disorders, such as ulcers or gastritis
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: July 6, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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