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Can Dehydration Upset The Delicate Balance Of Electrolytes In An Elderly Person?
Question: I am a 58 year old female. Usually my heart rate was 75-80 beats a minute. It suddenly went to 100 plus while at rest and 116 after eating. I have had my thyroid checked and had two ECGs and they appear to be OK. I am at the same time suffering with stiff and achy hips, knees, shoulders and muscle weakness in left arm. My tongue and mouth completely dries out during the night even with sipping water. All this has occurred over the last three weeks. The blood work done showed slightly low red blood cell count and haemoglobin and slightly raised neutrophils. The Dr put me on liquid iron but there has not been any improvement in the rapid heart rate. When I am in bed the pulse is 84 but when I rise it goes to 90-100 +. I do not normally take any medication. I am normally a fit person and I am baffled by this.
We had experienced a very hot summer with several months where temperatures went into 45 deg C (up to 115 deg F). Could electrolytes be disturbed through dehydration?
We had experienced a very hot summer with several months where temperatures went into 45 deg C (up to 115 deg F). Could electrolytes be disturbed through dehydration?
Brief Answer:
You should go for complete blood count and electolytes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
You have high pulse rate. But your thyroid function test are normal.
Anemia can leads to high pulse rate and electrolytes abnormalities can also leads to high pulse rate. So check your hemoglobin level as well as sodium and potassium level.
If you already gone through hemoglobin test then send me the report. It can be low due to iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency or some other cause. So iron alone may not be helpful.
Please send me your complete blood count report and electrolytes reports so that I can help you further.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer.
Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
You should go for complete blood count and electolytes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
You have high pulse rate. But your thyroid function test are normal.
Anemia can leads to high pulse rate and electrolytes abnormalities can also leads to high pulse rate. So check your hemoglobin level as well as sodium and potassium level.
If you already gone through hemoglobin test then send me the report. It can be low due to iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency or some other cause. So iron alone may not be helpful.
Please send me your complete blood count report and electrolytes reports so that I can help you further.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer.
Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have just sent you my recent blood count (it is from Italy but you should be able to read it OK). I will have to go to a doctor locally to get a test for electrolytes. I also had left jaw pain and a gum ulcer with bleeding gums which may point to an infection causing the rapid heart rate. My blood pressure is normally 117/79 but during these weeks went down to as low as 96/65 and then around 102/65. I am not suffering any breathlessness but aches in knee, hips, shoulders etc.
Do you have an answer following the blood report and ECG I sent you yesterday?
Do you have an answer following the blood report and ECG I sent you yesterday?
Brief Answer:
Your hemoglobin is slightly low. Your high pulse rate is not due low Hb.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
I have gone through your reports and ecg.
Your reports suggest slightly low hemoglobin. That much low hemoglobin is common and not cause any major problems.
Your total count is at high normal range. Your neutrophil are also high. It suggest infection. whuch you already have. So it may be a cause. Or there may be some electrolytes abnormalities. Your knee, hip and shoulder pain has no relation with this.
Take treatment of your infection and go for electrolytes test.
Don't worry much about that. Just be relaxed. You will be ok within short time.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Your hemoglobin is slightly low. Your high pulse rate is not due low Hb.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
I have gone through your reports and ecg.
Your reports suggest slightly low hemoglobin. That much low hemoglobin is common and not cause any major problems.
Your total count is at high normal range. Your neutrophil are also high. It suggest infection. whuch you already have. So it may be a cause. Or there may be some electrolytes abnormalities. Your knee, hip and shoulder pain has no relation with this.
Take treatment of your infection and go for electrolytes test.
Don't worry much about that. Just be relaxed. You will be ok within short time.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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