A heat wave is making its way across the United States.
And as the temperatures soar, so does the risk for dehydration.
“Many of us walk around dehydrated, and we don’t even know it. Not everybody drinks the recommended 64 ounces of water a day. So this is a risk factor in and of itself,” said Dr. Allan Capin, an urgent care physician at Cleveland Clinic. “But when we’re dealing with heat and as it applies to us physically, there’s a spectrum of illnesses that can occur.”
Capin said dehydration is more common in the heat because our bodies sweat more to help stay cool, and the more we sweat, the more fluids we lose.
Symptoms of dehydration typically include headache, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, lack of appetite and having dark colored urine.
Dehydration can also put a person at risk for heat stroke.
Heat stroke happens when your body can’t cool off fast enough.
In severe cases, it can be fatal.
Capin said the best way to avoid dehydration and other heat-related illnesses is by drinking plenty of water and staying cool.
“One of the other things that we try to concentrate is on staying cool. So you want to limit outdoor activities specifically during the hottest part of the day, which is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drinking water becomes imperative. It’s also important to avoid alcohol, caffeine and any kind of sugary drinks because it can make the situation worse,” he advised.
Capin said children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to dehydration, so be sure to keep a close eye on them in this weather. soar