 |
 |
How to Prevent Hydration
ShareWhat is dehydration?
Dehydration is no laughing matter. It can be very dangerous, especially in our extreme weather conditions. But how do you know if you’re hitting the danger zone?That’s the problem. We don’t always feel thirsty before we need to quench it – so often we’re more dehydrated than we realise.
Some people are also more at risk of dehydration than others, including babies, kids and older people. You may find your thirst changes over time, too – especially if you become more or less active.
What does dehydration feel like?
It can hit you like an ice block to the head. Here are some common signs that you’re dehydrated:- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Tiredness
- Dry eyes, lips and mouth
- Fewer trips to the loo: less than four times a day
- Feeling thirsty
- Having dark, strange smelling urine
But of course, no one wants to experience all that! So here’s how you can keep dehydration away:
Drink water
It’s an obvious one. But before you say “duh!” consider that there is a right way to drink water and stay hydrated. The trick is to take small sips throughout the day, so your wee is a consistent clear colour.How much? Better Health Vic says adult women should drink around two litres (8 cups) a day, while men are best with 2.6 litres (10 cups).
That being said, you’ll want to drink more water than usual in hotter weather, when you’ve been vomiting or had diarrhoea, or sweating excessively. And if you’ve had a night on the booze, be sure to rehydrate the next day.
In these cases, you may want to add some electrolytes to your water. These replace your bodily salts and minerals (such as sodium, bicarbonate, phosphate, chloride and potassium) which are lost during dehydration.
Printer Friendly Version
References
Related Modalities
Men's Health Women's Health
