Writing characters who becomes severely malnourished/dehydrated?
Malnourishment:
- Death: average - 21 days (3 weeks), max. ever recorded - 70 days (2.3 months).
- 6 hours: grouchiness and hunger due to lack of glucose.
- 24 hours - 48 hours: hunger very apparent, pains in stomach; body has entered ketosis and is using fatty acids as energy.
- 72 hours+: muscles begin to get broken down for energy.
- You will become increasingly depressed, irritable, hysteric, apathetic; decline in concentration, comprehension and judgement; social isolation and withdrawal; possible self-harm.
- If your character doesn't eat for five consecutive days, they are at risk of Refeeding Syndrome. This is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.
Recommended reading:
The Minnesota Starvation Experiment and psychology of starvation based on the experiment.
Dehydration:
- Death: average 3 days; some live 8-10 days.
- For calculations: TWV = total water volume in body; average adult loses 2.5 litres of water per day.
- Assuming your character doesn't eat, drink or absorb any moisture.
- 9 hours/2% TWV: thirst, discomfort, dry skin, loss of appetite; 50% loss of performance for athletes; elevated body temperature, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness when standing, decreased fluid secretion (sweat, urination, tears etc. )
- 24 hours/ 6% TWV: sleepiness, severe headache, nausea, tingling in limbs.
- 36-72 hour/ 6-15% TWV: no urination, seizures, muscle spasms, shrivelled skin, fainting, vision dimming, delirium.
- 72 hours+ /15% TWV: organ failure.
Recommended reading:
Dehydration on the psychology wiki.
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