Diagnosis of Dehydration

To cure any disease successfully, diagnosis is very necessary. There are different diagnostic tests for dehydration. These are mentioned below

Physical examination

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is forced or pressure exerted by the blood on the wall of arteries
When person is suffering from dehydration, it can lead to the fall in the blood pressure
When sufficient blood is not flowing in the body organs like brain and heart blood pressure falls down
By measuring blood pressure doctor can recognize if the person is affected from dehydration

Heart rate

When person is dehydrated it leads to increase in the heart rate
For diagnosis of dehydration doctor can check your heart rate. If you have increased heart rate then it shows the person suffering from dehydration.

Skin turgor

By observing skin we can identify the percentage of loss of fluid from the body
In dehydrated patient, if you hold the skin in pinch and release, it will take some time to come to its original position as compare to normal.
If there is less dehydration then it will take less time to come its original position. If person shows more loss of body fluid then more time will required for skin to come its original position.

Nail blanch test

This is very initial examination test though which doctor gets the idea about the percentage of dehydration in the patient
Oxygenated blood is carried to each and every part of the body. In dehydrated patient volume of blood decreases.
If you apply pressure on the nail bed until it will turn to white and after some time release it and see the effect
If less time is taken by nail to gain its original colour then it shows less dehydration in the patient. If more time is taken then it indicate that person shows more dehydration.

Shock

If a person is suffering from severe dehydration it can lead to fall in the blood pressure and less urine is formed.
Sometime tissues get damage and person becomes unconscious, this condition is called shock

Blood test

In ESR blood testing erythrocyte sedimentation rate is counted to study the extent of swelling inside the body
In blood testing we can identify the decrease in level of blood like in anemia
From blood test we can detect any abnormal functioning in the kidney. If kidneys are not working properly then it can affect the formation and release of urine.
If kidneys shows abnormal functioning then it can release more dilute urine causing dehydration
In blood test the concentration of the minerals like potassium, sodium and chlorine is measured, according to that doctor can recognize the percentage of dehydration
More amount of sugar in the blood shows diabetes as well as dehydration in the patient.
Concentrate urine is formed because of dehydration. If colour of urine is yellow then it shows dehydration