Fluid Intake

Question: How much fluid intake do a coronary artery disease patient needs a day and what type of fluids should it be? Do these patients need to increase or decrese their fluid intake? Thanks! :)

Answer: Coronary artery disease alone should not be greatly influenced by fluid intake. If they have a degree of congestive heart failure, then you have to be very careful with fluids, especially those given IV. In the face of normal renal function, they should have little problem taking care of normal p.o. or IV fluids. They should neither increase not decrease their fluids. The fluid management of patients with CHF is too involved for this forum.

Question: What are the main problems faced by older and disabled patients in regard to fluid intake? I intend to design a fluid dispenser for use by older or disabled people who are confined to a bed or chair and are dependent on a carer for their fluid intake. Any answers to this will be much appreciated to help me in my designs. Thanks.

Answer: One feature could be that it can be set to dispense a certain amount each time, say only 5 ounces at a time to prevent overfilling the cup. This would be helpful for the patients who can't see well. It could have a digital memory to keep track of how much is dispensed so the caregiver can record it in their chart.

Question: What are the recommendations for fluid intake before,? What are the recommendations for fluid intake before, during, and after exercise?

Answer: you should be drinking around a gallon of water every day.

Question: Why do you have to keep a 24 hr fluid intake sheet for someone with chest pain? I'm a student nurse and the patient I have been assigned to has it in their chart to keep a 24 hr fluid intake sheet and I can't figure out why for someone with chest pain.

Answer: Think about the worst cause of the chest pain. The heart. Heart patients can have a decreased EF, or ejection fraction. If the EF is down, fluid can build up -> congestive heart failure.

Question: What could be wrong if your urine output exceeds your fluid intake quite a bit? What could be causing a problem of frequent urination without much fluid intake? is that considered overactive bladder?

Answer: well your antidiurettic hormone (spelled wrong..yahoo doesn't have the correct spelling listed for me to choose from.lol, aka ADH) is what regulates the amount of water your body retains.. if you're urinating more than you're drinking, odds are your ADH hormone isn't being released? im pretty sure thats the reason. it would mean that your posterior pituitary gland isn't doing what it should. that gland also controls your oxytocin. anyway you're on dangerous grounds. you might want to go to your doctor before you die.. which if what you're saying is true and not over exaggerated could be sooner than you think...

Question: fluid intake? how long can a person safely go without drinking ?

Answer: Not long on a weekend pal.

Question: Does decaffeinated tea/coffee count towards your 2L fluid intake in a day? Presumably the reason normal tea and coffee doesn't count is because of the diuretic effect of the caffeine it contains. So does that mean decaf would count towards your recommended fluid intake?

Answer: Caffeine filled tea and coffee counts, just not as much as the equivilent of water because of the reasons you gave. Tea is full of antioxidants, so without the caffeine it is all good (providing they don't decaffeinate it witha whole load of nasty chemicals - try Clipper teas for a natural alternative).

Question: How much daily fluid intake should a 20 month old have? I'm just wondering how much fluid intake should the little one have cos I'm wondering if I'm giving her too much. It seems that the more I give the more she has and I'm also frightened incase I dehydrate her. Thx Clarabella Sorry missed a bit out on my original question - I'm frightened that if I dont give her enough I might dehydrate her!!! Sorry!!!

Answer: Children should generally have 1-1/2 ounces of fluid for every pound of body weight. Beverages such as milk, juice, and water contribute to the fluid requirement, as does food with a high water content like yogurt, pudding, fruits, and vegetables. Some conditions that require increased fluid intake include hot weather, fever, or lots of drooling.

Question: Whats the minimum fluid intake for 4 month old? My 4 month old daughter had had a diarrhoea and sickness bug since Thursday. She is obviously being fuzzy taking milk and water. What is the minimum fluid intake a day for a 4 month old baby to stop her becoming dehydrated? Thanks

Answer: phroawr i'd give your childa big fluid intake

Question: Does tea contribute to daily fluid intake? Does regular breakfast tea and green tea contribute to the recommended daily fluid intake or does it actually counter act this as it is a diuretic so encourages fluid loss?? I drink lots and lots of all kinds of tea. is that good or bad?

Answer: Of course it does, it's mainly water . Green tea is especially good. Less caffeine. Various studies have been done to see it's effect on cholesterol, cancer and arthritis. No absolute answer found yet, but it must be worth a try

Question: Bronchitis and fever help and fluid intake? Hi I went to the emergency room today because I have a very bad cough with a fever of 101.9. They told me I have a very sever case of Bronchitis. They sent me home and would not admit me even though I beg them to. Also sent me home with a whole bunch of medicine I am really have severe Nausea from all the coughing I am doing and have vomited several times. I take compostine 10mg prscription and that is not even helping with the nausa. The only think I am taking sips of is Gatorade Orange flavor. I mean like 1 sip ever half hour at most. How much fluid intake should I have of Gatorade Daily to keep me from Dehydration. Just to note I am a whit male 32 years old and weigh 148. Also I guess I have to ride this out with the medicine they gave me in the ER right? I really do feel like death warmed over. Thanks and please answer all my question thanks so much all.

Answer: First off, how long have you been sick? Assuming they did at least a cbc (complete blood count), hopefully a chest x-ray. Your fever of 101.9 is not terribly high. Bronchitis will make you feel like death warmed over. Try to drink as much as you can, but do not guzzle. If small sips are all you can handle, take the small sips. There's a simple test you can do to help check on your hydration status. Pinch a little of the skin up above your collar bone and then let go. If it quickly returns to the way it was then you should not be too dehydrated. If it doesn't go back into place fairly quick, you'll need to tell the doctor. Look at your tongue also. see if it's thick and very dry. Hope you feel better real soon. You'll probably just have to ride it out.

Question: Why is fluid intake important when you have a cold or flu? Also, I take things to boost my immune system along with vitamins and still caught some kind of bug. Not coughing, nor do I have a sore throat, just really bad nasal congestion and feeling like crap. Any suggestions??

Answer: Fever, coughing, sneezing are all synptoms that lead to fluid loss. When you feel bad the appetite, including desire for liquids, is decreased. The body needs fluid for proper operation. Chemical reactions within the cells require the proper levels of water. Your immune system will not function at normal levels without appropriate water. Water itself is not always tolerated when sick, particularly with viral infections causing stomach upset. Fruit juices will give fluids and are often more easily ingested. Whatever can be taken is better than no fluids at all.

Question: do sodas count towards your fluid intake or does it have to be actual water? Me and a friend of mine are having a disagreement. He says that the reason Im tired all the time is because I drink nothing but diet coke. I HATE water. I drink at least 80 ounces a day of liquid, but its just not 'water'. He says that Im seriously dehydrating myself. I say as long as its liquid, it counts. Who is right?

Answer: Carbonated beverages are absolute poison to your body. The phosphoric and carbonic acids that are in sodas wreak havoc on your blood chemistry. And since your blood touches every part of your body, when your blood is off, you feel off. Sodas are more concentrated than your blood. That means when you drink the stuff, your body actually loses water trying to process it. A twelve ounce glass of soda is equivalent to a NEGATIVE amount of water. Your friend is correct in stating you are slowly killing yourself by dehydration. You hate water? Stop drinking it from the tap, for starters. Tap water is full of disgusting, unpronounceable chemicals that are allowed in it, by law. Tap water tastes awful. Natural spring water or distilled water is better tasting, and better for you. Want to like water? Serve it cold, with a squeeze of lemon or lime in it. I like my water better that way. I can drink much more water when I vary the taste. Eighty ounces of liquid... providing it is clear, clean water... is right on the money.

Question: Why does squash/high juice, not count as fluid intake? i heard that squash/high jucie isn't healthy and doesn't count as fluid intake. but it is a tiny drop of the stuff and filled with water. please explain if this is wrong and how?

Answer: Of course it counts as fluid intake! People are very odd about this - they seem to think it's water or nothing! Fluid intake includes milk, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, fizzy drinks etc etc. Some drinks are slightly diuretic (makes you wee) but this is tiny in comparison with the amount of fluid you take in. You should beware of drinking squashes & fizzy drinks too often because of the sugar - but if fluid intake is your prime concern, then any drink is OK :)

Question: Does a lack of fluid intake dry out your complexion? Ive noticed that when I don't drink alot of fluids my skin and lips become dry, is this really because I don't drink enough?

Answer: You really ought to. But a decent moisturizer can make up for it.

Question: What (approximate) %age of your fluid intake per day is soda or coffee/tea versus plain water? Plain or bottled water.

Answer: 95% diet Pepsi 5% water-bottled