Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?SymptomsRisksTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
Symptoms
Risks
Treatment
Prevention
Hypertonic dehydration, otherwise known ashypernatremia, occurs when the body loses too much water and not enough sodium, leading to an imbalance of water and sodium levels. It is one of three forms ofdehydration.
Hypertonic Dehydration: One Form of Dehydration
There are three specific types of dehydration: isonatremic,hypernatremia, andhyponatremic. While isonatremic occurs when the body loses the same amount of fluids as sodium, hyponatremic dehydration occurs when the body loses more sodium than water.
Hypertonic dehydration, which is an excess loss of water without losing as much sodium, is the second most common type of dehydration and accounts for roughly 15% of dehydration cases.
There are various causes and risk factors associated with hypertonic dehydration, including:
A Word From VerywellHypertonic dehydration usually happens when there is an illness that causes excess fluid loss, like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, diabetes insipidus or end stage renal disease. Other times this may happen is with excessive sweating or not drinking enough water.—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Hypertonic dehydration usually happens when there is an illness that causes excess fluid loss, like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, diabetes insipidus or end stage renal disease. Other times this may happen is with excessive sweating or not drinking enough water.—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Hypertonic dehydration usually happens when there is an illness that causes excess fluid loss, like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, diabetes insipidus or end stage renal disease. Other times this may happen is with excessive sweating or not drinking enough water.
—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Role of Sodium in Hydration and Dehydration
Salt vs. Sodium"Sodium" and “salt” are terms often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Salt is made up of roughly40% sodium and 60% chloride, whereas sodium is 100% pure sodium. Having both in high amounts can lead to dehydration, as well as other health conditions.
Salt vs. Sodium
“Sodium” and “salt” are terms often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Salt is made up of roughly40% sodium and 60% chloride, whereas sodium is 100% pure sodium. Having both in high amounts can lead to dehydration, as well as other health conditions.
IV Fluids for Dehydration: How Solutions Rehydrate You
Hypertonic Dehydration Symptoms: How to Tell
Hypertonic dehydration can vary from mild to severe, and the symptoms that develop will depend on the severity of the condition. For example, mild hypertonic dehydration may lead to symptoms such as:
A person experiencing mild hypertonic dehydration may feel tired, thirsty, or restless.As the imbalance in the blood becomes more severe, so will the symptoms. Other possible symptoms of more severe cases of hypertonic dehydration are:
Diagnosing Hypertonic DehydrationTo accurately diagnose hypertonic dehydration, a healthcare provider will ask about your health history and symptoms. They may also ask questions about lifestyle, including your diet and how much water you drink. Tests may also be done to check for fluid and sodium levels in the blood or saliva.Other tests that may be used include urine tests to check levels of sodium vs. water and ultrasound imaging to see fluid volume in blood vessels.
Diagnosing Hypertonic Dehydration
To accurately diagnose hypertonic dehydration, a healthcare provider will ask about your health history and symptoms. They may also ask questions about lifestyle, including your diet and how much water you drink. Tests may also be done to check for fluid and sodium levels in the blood or saliva.Other tests that may be used include urine tests to check levels of sodium vs. water and ultrasound imaging to see fluid volume in blood vessels.
How to Spot the Signs of Dehydration
Risks of Hypertonic Dehydration
There are some risks associated with hypertonic dehydration, and they amplify in more severe cases. The most notable and detrimental is death, but that only occurs in rare and significantly severe cases.
Treatment for Hypertonic Dehydration
Oral rehydration (reintroducing water into the body through the mouth) is the first-line treatment for hypertonic dehydration. This involves drinking an oral solution that contains adequate levels of sodium,potassium, and glucose to help maximize fluid absorption.
In some cases, fluids will need to be reintroduced into the body intravenously (IV) to directly enter the bloodstream.
If hypertonic dehydration is severe or has lasted for longer than 24 hours, the process of reintroducing fluid has to be taken at a slow pace so the cells do not absorb too much water too quickly. Doing so can lead to an excess amount of water in brain cells, known ascerebral edema. If a health disorder is causing hypertonic dehydration, the patient will have to undergo treatment for the condition at the same time as fluid replacement.
Ways to Stay Ahead of Hypertonic Dehydration
Avoiding Hypertonic Dehydration When Forced to Work OutdoorsPeople who work outside in extreme heat should do all of the above to keep their fluid intake high, along with taking breaks in cool or air-conditioned areas and spraying themselves with cool water to avoid overheating.
Avoiding Hypertonic Dehydration When Forced to Work Outdoors
People who work outside in extreme heat should do all of the above to keep their fluid intake high, along with taking breaks in cool or air-conditioned areas and spraying themselves with cool water to avoid overheating.
You’re Probably Better at Hydrating Than You Think
Summary
Hypertonic dehydration is the second-most common type of dehydration and occurs when the body loses more fluid than sodium, leading to an imbalance. People who develop this type of dehydration will most likely experience mild symptoms, such as fatigue, restlessness, increased thirst, and dark urine.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Freige C, Spry C.Oral rehydration solutions versus drink of choice in children with dehydration: A review of clinical effectiveness [internet].Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.2020 Mar 2.Osmosis from Elsevier.Hypertonic dehydration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effects of sodium and potassium.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Salt and sodium.Frith J.New horizons in the diagnosis and management of dehydration.Age Ageing.2023 Oct 2;52(10):afad193. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afad193Medline Plus.Dehydration.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Freige C, Spry C.Oral rehydration solutions versus drink of choice in children with dehydration: A review of clinical effectiveness [internet].Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.2020 Mar 2.Osmosis from Elsevier.Hypertonic dehydration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effects of sodium and potassium.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Salt and sodium.Frith J.New horizons in the diagnosis and management of dehydration.Age Ageing.2023 Oct 2;52(10):afad193. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afad193Medline Plus.Dehydration.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Freige C, Spry C.Oral rehydration solutions versus drink of choice in children with dehydration: A review of clinical effectiveness [internet].Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.2020 Mar 2.Osmosis from Elsevier.Hypertonic dehydration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effects of sodium and potassium.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Salt and sodium.Frith J.New horizons in the diagnosis and management of dehydration.Age Ageing.2023 Oct 2;52(10):afad193. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afad193Medline Plus.Dehydration.
Freige C, Spry C.Oral rehydration solutions versus drink of choice in children with dehydration: A review of clinical effectiveness [internet].Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.2020 Mar 2.
Osmosis from Elsevier.Hypertonic dehydration.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effects of sodium and potassium.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Salt and sodium.
Frith J.New horizons in the diagnosis and management of dehydration.Age Ageing.2023 Oct 2;52(10):afad193. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afad193
Medline Plus.Dehydration.
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