Beware Of The Impact Of Dehydration When Coughing And Colding, Can Hinder The Recovery Process

Illustration of cough and runny nose (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Symptoms of dehydration are sometimes neglected when people are infected with upper respiratory tract infections such as cough and runny nose. In fact, dehydration is what you need to watch out for when you cough and runny nose because the impact can be detrimental to health.

Dr Abdul Majid Khan of Olive Hospital in Hyderabad explained, meaning reduced body fluids due to excessive fluid loss, reduced fluid intake, or both.

All types of missing fluids contain different amounts of electrolyte, so that fluid loss is always accompanied by a certain amount of electrolyte loss.

"In upper respiratory tract infections, fever itself causes dehydration because it causes excessive sweat and increases breathing. Furthermore, because the body consumes energy to fight infection, increasing energy demand can cause an energy deficit," said Dr. Khan.

He said, sore throat, which is a common initial symptom of upper respiratory tract infection, can interfere with fluid intake which then causes dehydration.

"The deficit is getting worse because cumulative intake of food and liquid causes a deficit of energy, liquid electrolyte," he said.

According to him, fluid, electrolyte, and energy deficits during viral infections and upper respiratory tract infections can cause muscle pain, muscle cramps, and muscle weakness.

"In addition, dehydration can cause the thickening of secretion which makes it difficult to get out of the lungs," he said.

He added that dehydration can also have a negative impact on symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing, disrupting immunity, delaying recovery, and increasing the possibility of repeated infections.

According to Dr.Khan, providing electrolyte and energy supplements to patients with upper respiratory tract infections can help increase the speed of patient recovery.

The American Society of Parental and Enteral Nutrition (APSEN) recommends drinking 60-120 ml of clear fluid containing electrolyte and calories every 15 minutes to dilute the secretion of breathing during illness.

Dr. Khan said consuming electrolytes with water can help relieve muscle pain and cramps during infection. According to him, during carbohydrate intake infections, it must also be maintained to prevent muscle protein breakdown to produce energy.

In conditions such as fever, consuming drinks that contain electrolyte and energy can help in the recovery process.

Dr. Khan said it was necessary to return the electrolyte liquid and energy deficit in the right format so that patients could recover faster.

"It is better to consult a doctor if you have a high fever, cough, persistent muscle pain, or symptoms of dehydration such as a dry tongue, dark urine," he said.