Final answer:
If dehydration is not corrected, it can result in decreased blood volume, weight loss, acid-base balance issues, and severe symptoms such as loss of consciousness, coma, and death. It can be especially dangerous for infants, endurance athletes, and those with conditions like diabetes insipidus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Prolonged Dehydration
If dehydration is not corrected, it can lead to serious health consequences. In the human body, water is essential for maintaining blood volume, allowing for adequate circulation and nutrient transport. When fluids are not consumed adequately, dehydration occurs, leading to a decrease in blood volume. Physiological responses include the movement of water from cells into the blood to compensate, resulting in cellular shrinkage.
Severe and untreated dehydration can cause various symptoms and complications, such as loss of consciousness, coma, and ultimately, death. Infants and endurance athletes are particularly at risk due to their lower body mass and high levels of water loss, respectively. Additionally, dehydration can lead to weight loss, disturbances in acid-base balance, depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, and a generally run-down feeling. In extreme cases, dehydration can cause recurring infections, malnutrition, and unchecked, it can be life-threatening requiring urgent medical attention.
Moreover, dehydration can exacerbate certain medical conditions such as diabetes insipidus, where a chronic underproduction of ADH or a mutation in the ADH receptor leads to significant water loss through the urine, compounding the dehydration issue and potentially causing severe electrolyte imbalances.