Dehydration Treatment - FCCMG | Orange County, CA

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, affecting its ability to function properly. The human body is more than 70% water, and it is crucial to prevent and treat dehydration before it takes a serious toll on your physical and mental health.

Water is central to digestion, circulation, temperature regulation, and waste elimination. When these functions are impaired, fatigue, dizziness, and even organ failure can result. Staying hydrated is key to maintaining overall wellness.

At Family Care Centers Medical Group, we offer urgent care and dehydration management 7 days a week. If you suffer from the symptoms of dehydration, you can contact one of our Family Care Centers’ urgent care clinics in Irvine-Woodbridge, or Costa Mesa for non-appointment walk-in urgent care.

What Makes Us Different from Other Urgent Care Clinics?

FCCMG’s urgent care clinics sets itself apart from other clinics:

One-on-one patient-provider interaction
Open every day, including holidays
In-house labs for quick diagnosis and effective treatment
Friendly and compassionate staff
Free Parking
Online check-in to reduce wait times

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What Causes Dehydration?

You can suffer a water deficit from not drinking enough water, losing more water than you are taking in, or both:

Vomiting or diarrhea
High fever
Causes your body to lose fluids via increased skin evaporation
Frequent urination
Increased urination from medical conditions like diabetes or certain medications can cause increased fluid losses
Sweating
Especially from summertime heat, you can dehydrate from excessive sweating

Factors that can speed up dehydration include:

Excessive Heat and Low Humidity
When exposed to heat, the body sweats to cool down. However, in conditions of low humidity — “dry heat” — sweat evaporates quickly, making it difficult to perceive how much fluid you are losing. As a result, extreme heat and low humidity can rapidly deplete your body's water reserves, leading to dehydration.
Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it stimulates urine production and leads to increased fluid loss. Consequently, the body ends up ejecting more fluid than usual.
High Elevation
At higher altitudes, the air becomes drier, so the moisture from the body evaporates more quickly. Additionally, the air pressure is lower, causing fluids to evaporate from the respiratory passages faster. As a result, you can experience both increased breathing and sweating, leading to an increased loss of fluids. Since higher altitudes have colder temperatures, you might not be fully aware that your body needs extra water.
Extra Activity and Sweating
When engaging in intense activity, such as exercise or prolonged exertion, your body generates heat and produces sweat as a natural mechanism to cool down. This process, however, also leads to increased loss of fluids and electrolytes.

What Are the Symptoms of Dehydration?

Common dehydration symptoms include:

Thirst and Dry Mouth
As you lose fluids, your salivary glands produce less saliva, leading to mouth dryness. The fluid loss triggers the thirst reflex, reminding you to replenish your fluid levels.
Fatigue and Dizziness
Dehydration decreases blood volume, and reduces delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and organs. Also, your body redirects blood to working muscles and away from the skin, interfering with your body’s ability to scatter heat. This increase in internal heat can intensify symptoms of fatigue and dizziness.
Dark-Colored Urine and Decreased Urination
When the body lacks fluids, your kidneys concentrate your urine to reduce fluid loss, causing a reduction in the amount of urine produced and a darker colored urine.
Headaches and Confusion
Dehydration can actually shrink your brain, pulling it away from the skull and increasing pressure on nerves, causing headaches. As your brain contracts, its cells cannot function properly, causing cognitive impairment including confusion.
Muscle Cramps and Weakness
Dehydration impacts the concentration of key salts in bodily fluids, which are necessary for proper muscle contractions. As a result, muscle cramps and weakness can occur.

Dehydration Treatment at Our Urgent Care Clinics

Based on your causes and symptoms, we may recommend Oral Fluids which involves drinking water and other rehydration drinks like low-sugar sports and electrolyte beverages. Stay hydrated and get the care you need

FAQs

Common symptoms of dehydration include increased thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, reduced urination, dark-colored urine, fatigue, headaches, dry skin, confusion, and in severe cases, fainting or rapid heartbeat.

Seek urgent care if you experience severe symptoms such as persistent dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, fainting, inability to urinate for several hours, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or symptoms worsening despite efforts to hydrate.

Dehydration typically results from excessive fluid loss due to vomiting, diarrhea, fever, excessive sweating, or insufficient fluid intake. Higher-risk groups include infants, children, older adults, athletes, people with chronic illnesses, and those who are sick or exposed to hot weather conditions.

FCCMG urgent care providers diagnose dehydration through a detailed medical history, symptom evaluation, physical examination, and sometimes laboratory tests such as blood tests or urinalysis to determine the severity and cause of dehydration.

Yes, untreated dehydration can lead to serious health complications, including kidney problems, urinary tract infections, electrolyte imbalances, heat injury, seizures, and, in extreme cases, life-threatening conditions like heatstroke or shock.

FCCMG urgent care provides various treatments based on dehydration severity, including oral rehydration solutions, electrolyte replacement, and personalized guidance on proper hydration practices.

No. FCCMG will carefully evaluate whether IV solutions are necessary, and will expedite being seen promptly in a local emergency room, if so.

No appointment is required. You can walk into FCCMG urgent care centers for prompt evaluation and immediate treatment of dehydration.

Recovery from mild dehydration usually occurs within hours after starting proper hydration. Severe cases treated with IV fluids often show significant improvement within a few hours, though complete recovery may take a day or two, depending on overall health and severity.

To prevent dehydration, drink fluids throughout the day, especially water and electrolyte-rich drinks, avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol, wear breathable clothing in hot weather, take frequent hydration breaks, and replenish fluids promptly during illness, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Get Expert Evaluation and Personalized Care for Dehydration at FCCMG!

If you or a family member are suffering from dehydration, visit one of our Family Care Centers Medical Group urgent care facilities in Irvine, and Costa Mesa, CA, today for quick evaluation and care. With state-of-the-art facilities and a patient-centered approach, we offer effective treatment options tailored to your specific needs when you need them most.