Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: shadani88 on 03/11/2011 22:57:58

Title: How to measure body hydration?
Post by: shadani88 on 03/11/2011 22:57:58

Hello!

I'm working on a project about body/skin de/hydration. I'm interested if there is already a known  technique or technology with which we could measure body/skin de/hydration in a simple/easy and quick way?
I know that there are already certain techniques/technologies which are measuring de/hydration,  (for example urine and blood tissue testing), but I would like to know if there is a faster and more simple technique/technology which we could use in our daily routine(and if it is also accurate)?
When I was looking for answers I found those techniques/technologies:
-   Fingerprint senzor
-   Corneometer
-   Nova DPM
-   Pulse oksimetre
-   Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
-   Moisture checker
-   Opto-thermal transient emission radiometry (OTTER)

Which of this is most accurate and fast? Are there any other appropriate?

Thank you for your time and your answers!

Title: How to measure body hydration?
Post by: CliffordK on 04/11/2011 02:16:03

I suppose it is a bit different subject, but as part of a program to prevent heat exhaustion, one company I worked for would take auricular infrared temperature readings.  If the temperature got up to 101°F or so, then the employee was sent for a mandatory break.

The crudest method to check hydration is that if one urinates (at all...  or normally?) then one is probably adequately hydrated. 

One could certainly run tests of urine concentration, or even blood sodium (although the blood sodium concentration would likely require drawing blood).

I have seen ads for very expensive devices that used IR on the surface to determine metal alloys.  Perhaps a similar scanner could determine a person's chemical makeup.

Title: How to measure body hydration?
Post by: Gyzin on 05/11/2011 08:32:37

Quote from: shadani88 on 03/11/2011 22:57:58

... is already a known  technique or technology with which we could measure body/skin de/hydration in a simple/easy and quick way?

Pinch skin ...

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nlm.nih.gov%2Fmedlineplus%2Fency%2Fimages%2Fency%2Ffullsize%2F17223.jpg&hash=c4dd8171a67290027801d719074fe943)

 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003281.htm

Title: How to measure body hydration?
Post by: Karen W. on 06/11/2011 03:24:35

Thats one my doctors do... I also know they had me measuring what went in with what came out in a hat urine catcher..lolMaking sure the liquid going in was about same coming out.. if you have too much coffee tea beer etc that makes you get dehydrated to much and you will empty more then what you should because those things act a diuretics.. so can dehydrate you quicker so you need to take in a bit more plain water and non diuretic liquids to keep the output at a more even pace..  So simply measuring and tracking both input and output can help you stay hydrated. excess out put leads to dehydration if the liquid input has not been upped also.

Title: How to measure body hydration?
Post by: Bored chemist on 06/11/2011 09:52:53

That test has the advantage of being cheap, easy and so on, but it's nor perfect. The elasticity of the skin varies markedly with age. By that test, many or most pensioners would be dehydrated all the time.