Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. While you might associate dehydration with high temperatures, there are quite a few things that can contribute to it, namely fever, excessive sweating, continuous vomiting or diarrhea, frequent urination.
When dehydrated, the body can’t function as intended and displays signs such as:
- Intense thirst.
- Less quantity and darker (not clear) urine.
- Warm skin to the touch and not producing sweat.
- Fatigue and dizziness.
- Dry mouth and/or a dry cough.
- High heart rate with low blood pressure.
- Headache.
- Delirium and confusion are signs of severe dehydration and require urgent medical attention.
Here are a few tips to avoid dehydration:
- Drink at least 2 liters of water daily.
- Make flavored water at home, like mint, cucumber, lime and lemon raspberry.
- Don’t wait till you’re thirsty to drink.
- Eat water-rich fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches and pineapples, cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes, celery, zucchini and tomatoes.
- Stay inside when it gets too hot. Avoid sun exposure, especially between 10 am and 2 pm. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing that lets your skin breathe.
- Use plenty of sunscreen to avoid sunburn, which can increase your skin temperature and make it harder to stay cool.
References:
https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6387-how-to-stay-hydrated-in-the-summer-heat