It is well known that fluid and electrolyte balance are critical to optimal exercise performance and, moreover, health maintenance. Most research conducted on extreme sporting endeavour (>3 hours) is based on case studies and studies involving small numbers of individuals. Ultra-endurance sportsmen and women typically do not meet their fluid needs during exercise. However, successful [...]
A complete urinalysis includes physical, chemical, and microscopic examinations. Midstream clean collection is acceptable in most situations, but the specimen should be examined within two hours of collection. Cloudy urine often is a result of precipitated phosphate crystals in alkaline urine, but pyuria also can be the cause. A strong odor may be the result [...]
In order to test the hypothesis that urine colour can be used as an index of hydration in critically ill patients, we selected 40 intensive care and high-dependency patients and correlated urine colour (scored on an eight-point scale) with various indices of hydration: urine:plasma sodium, osmolality and urea ratios, urine output and central venous pressure. In addition, we compared the colour-chart score with scores made by intensive care nurses (without the benefit of a colour chart) in [...]
These experiments examined relationships between initial osmolality and carbohydrate (CHO) composition of an infused solution and osmolality and water and CHO absorption in a test segment. A triple-lumen tube with a 10-cm mixing segment and a 40-cm test segment was passed into the duodenojejunum. The infusion port was approximately 10 cm beyond the pyloric sphincter. [...]
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine whether preexercise ingestion of a highly concentrated sodium beverage would increase plasma volume (PV) and reduce the physiological strain of moderately trained males running in the heat. METHODS: Eight endurance-trained (.VO2max: 58 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) (SD 5); 36 yr (SD 11)) runners completed this double-blind, crossover experiment. Runners ingested a [...]
Dehydration is the most common fluid and electrolyte problem among the elderly. The usual causes of water loss are frequently absent in dehydrated elderly patients. Age-related changes in total body water, thirst perception, renal concentrating ability, and vasopressin effectiveness probably predispose to dehydration. Dehydration related to infection, high-protein tube feedings, cerebral vascular accidents, and medication-related hypodypsia are particularly relevant for elderlypatients. Appropriate treatment [...]
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the frequency of dehydration, risk factors, and associations with outcomes at hospital discharge after stroke.METHODS:nWe linked clinical data from stroke patients in 2 prospective hospital registers with routine blood urea and creatinine results. Dehydration was defined by a blood urea-to-creatinine ratio >80. RESULTS:nOf 2591 patients registered, 1606 (62%) [...]
This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of state, minimally invasive clinical and physical signs (or sets of signs) to be used as screening tests for detecting impending or current water-loss dehydration, or both, in older people by systematically reviewing [...]
Maintenance of water balance is essential to normal physiologic function and vigorous aging. Older adults, however, frequently experience alterations in fluid homeostasis, which result in dehydration. This article describes the physiology of water balance, age-related changes that influence fluid regulation, and associated risk factors for dehydration in older adults. Fluid hygiene is an important health promotion activity for this age group, but when efforts to prevent imbalance are [...]
Objectives: to examine current practice with regard to hydration in acute stroke (part 1) to identify problem areas, to develop, implement and evaluate an intervention package (part 2). Design: prospective, repeated measures, between subjects Setting: a district general hospital. Participants: consecutive admissions with an acute stroke. Part 1 involved 30 patients, 14 of whom were [...]