Dehydration

As a consequence of chemotherapy medications and the side effects of the treatment, body fluids are lost. It is extremely important for your health that you replenish these fluids.

The general daily recommended intake of fluids is 9 cups for women and 13 cups for men. As well, in addition to this daily amount, it is recommended you drink 8 ounces of fluid for every time you vomit or experience diarrhea.

A couple of common ways we lose excess fluids may be vomiting and diarrhea. I recommend keeping a daily record estimating how much fluid you are losing from urinating, vomiting and diarrhea relative to a normal day. You should replace the extra fluid you lose in addition to the 9-13 cups needed to fulfill your daily requirement.

Some suggestions for fluids that you may drink are:
- water
- juices and sports drinks
- ice chips, flavored ices, frozen juices, and popsicles

You should avoid dehydrating fluids such as alcohol and caffeinated beverages (sodas, coffee and tea).

Tips to make sure you drink enough are:
- Drink all day especially between meals.
- Take a bottle of water wherever you go

An indicator that you are drinking enough fluids is if you are not thirsty and your urine is pale yellow.

If your physician is worried about dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, medications may be prescribed to treat these side effects.

Common causes of dehydration are:
- extra and prolonged loss of body fluids
- excessive vomiting
- prolonged diarrhea
-inadequate amount of fluid is ingested
-excess or strenuous exercise
-fever
-overuse of diuretics or laxatives

Symptoms of blood pressure changes may include:
- Fatigue - tiredness, weakness, difficult to do daily activities
- Dizziness or a feeling of fainting when changing positions such as arising from bed, standing or sitting up
- Nauseated
- Perceiving irregular heartbeats
- Experiencing sweatiness
- Experiencing chills
- Breathlessness and chest pain due to the heart not having enough blood to pump throughout the body
- Skin palor (pale)

Factors contributing to hypotension and low blood pressure include:
- Side effects or adverse effect of chemotherapy treatment
- Situations that decrease the amount of blood in the body and therefore decrease the amount of blood the heart can pump
- Certain medications
- Losing fluids from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea which leads to lower than normal amount of blood in your body
- Dehydration may also occur from hot weather, exercising, sweating, or fever

Make sure to track what causes low blood pressure for you and discuss with your health care provider.

Some tips manage hypotension are:
- Drink lots of water, gatorade, etc. to avoid dehydration.
- Eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, etc.
- Your doctor may recommend adding a moderate level of salt to your diet to increase blood pressure.
- Move slowly and take short rests between getting up, lying down, sitting, or standing. Don't stand up quickly or get out bed quickly.
- Stay out of the heat. This includes hot baths or showers, which might cause your blood pressure to drop even more.
- Try not to drink alcohol. Alcohol can contribute to low blood pressure and dehydration.
- Know your medications, because many medications may affect your blood pressure.