![]() While the body weight of the average adult is about 70 percent water it reduces to about 50 percent in older adults. If the body is continually dehydrated over weeks or months, it can lead to health complications like urinary tract infections, kidney stones and low blood volume, a serious condition where blood cannot adequately oxygenate tissue and blood pressure drops. Moderate dehydration can also be damaging. Aukerman notes that severe dehydration most often occurs following a long bout of vomiting or diarrhea. Get medical help immediately for a combination of these symptoms, as consuming water orally may not be safe. Severe dehydration symptoms include lack of urination or dark urine, rapid heartbeat, dry skin, sunken eyes, confusion and fever or chills. In this early stage the condition is very easy to remedy - simply drink a glass of water. Mild dehydration can leave you feeling dizzy, tired or nauseous. Stick to plain, carbonated and flavored water when the heat is high. Alcoholic, caffeinated and very sugary beverages aren’t a good choice if you’re dehydrated these drinks can actually dehydrate your body further. A heat advisory is a great excuse to head for the river or sit in air conditioning with a cool drink. If you are in an area with high humidity, sweat won’t cool your body as effectively since it won’t evaporate quickly in the moist air. When the heat is extreme, you may sweat more and need to drink more to offset those lost fluids. “If you’re sweating because you’re overheated, staying hydrated is one of the best ways you can support your body and help it cool off.” “Sweating is essential because it keeps your body from overheating, which is very hard on your heart and other organs,” said Dr. If your body is struggling to cool off, your core temperature may rise and your heart will have to work harder as it pumps blood to meet the additional demands of stimulating a sweat response. This works best when the air is cooler than your body temperature, 98.6 ° F on average. As the sweat evaporates off the skin, it helps cool you. When it’s hot, your body pumps a higher volume of blood to your skin causing you to sweat. Aukerman recommends talking to your doctor about how much water you should drink if you are diabetic or taking diuretic pills. If you’re sweating a lot because of the heat, you’ll need more. “Getting enough water every day means your organs have what they need to function properly and it gives you a little wiggle room if a problem arises.”Įight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day is enough for most people. “Hydration works best as a daily habit,” said Doug Aukerman, MD, a sports medicine physician at Samaritan Athletic Medicine Center. ![]() As urine becomes the color of apple juice or darker the body is becoming dehydrated and needs more water. Urine that is nearly clear or pale yellow like lemonade means your body has the fluid that it needs. The color of your urine is a good indicator of whether you’re getting enough water. How to Hydrateīeing thirsty is an early sign that you are already slightly dehydrated. Just be sure to get plenty of fluids – on a hot day dehydration can sneak up on you faster than you might expect. Summer in Oregon is a wonderful time to be outside gardening, hiking and enjoying the sunshine while it’s here.
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