Dehydration--Not Just a Summer Threat

Normally we consider the hazards of deydration during the hot-weather months. But this thinking can be quite detrimental to us all. During cold weather, the humidity plummets to the point where the air is so dry that moisture can be extracted right out of your body without you possibly even realizing it. And the drier the air, the more rapidly water evaporates--and the faster YOU dry out.

Thankfully there are myriad warning signs of dehydration. Thirst is actually the first sign of this condition. As it progresses, your urine darkens to orange or even brown. Then your throat may swell or feel sore. As the situation progresses, you lose coordination and develop lethargy. Finally, you may be on the verge of collapse.

But combatting dehydration is actually quite easy. Yes, yes, drink more water. How much? The going rate is about a gallon a day; your needs may be different, however. Considering the usual eight glasses a day, I would suggest drinking two in the morning, four spread out throughout the day, and finally two before bedtime. Again, your needs may be different so do not hold yourself to this schedule; do what your body needs you to do. The survival manuals that I have read strongly encourage you to drink water BEFORE you feel thirsty.  Fresh fruits and vegetables (not the canned ones) have a high water content along with low sodium and also prevent dehydration; canned goods are loaded with salt which aggravates the condition. Coffee, soft drinks, and energy drinks are diuretics and also accelerate water loss so limiting consumption of these products is recommended.

Influenza leading to diarrhea can be a potentially dangerous situation because this illness drastically leads to water loss and resulting weakness. Therefore, drinking plenty of water and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables during this time is vital along with the medication to reduce the diarrhea. And of course flu is prevalent throughout the year.

Do you have some suggestions on how to recognize and combat dehydration? I love hearing from you and would like to implement your ideas for my benefit as well. Have a safe and enjoyable winter.