Are you carrying around a ridiculously huge Stanley cup? Do you have a timer for your water consumption? Do you even know how much water you drink in a day? When it’s hot, everyone keeps saying to make sure you stay hydrated. But what does that really mean?
Hydration is all about making sure you replace the fluids your body loses through sweating, breathing and waste elimination (I’m being delicate!). On average, our bodies lose between 2-3 quarts of fluid every day and it’s important – especially when you’re sweating more than normal – to keep up with that fluid loss.
What happens if you get dehydrated? You might just feel thirsty – but symptoms can escalate quickly and include dizziness, tiredness, headache, muscle cramps, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate and even fainting. When you get to rapid breathing, rapid heart rate or fainting, it’s time for immediate medical help.
If you have the less severe symptoms of dehydration, you can just move to shade/cool room to rest and drink water slowly – think by regular sips. Suck on ice chips or popsicles. But by all means – DON’T drink caffeinated or alcholic drinks that can only dehydrate you more.
Here are some great links where you can learn more about hydration so you don’t end up dried up!
- https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/basic-nutrition/water-hydration-and-health
- https://familydoctor.org/hydration-why-its-so-important/
- https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/staying-hydrated-staying-healthy
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
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