Water is the most essential ingredient to a healthy life. It has many important functions in the body including:
- Transportation of nutrients and elimination of waste products
- Lubricating joints and tissues
- Temperature regulation through sweating
- Facilitating digestion
Proper hydration is especially important during physical exercise. The longer and more intensely you exercise, the more important it is to drink the right kinds of fluids like water. If you don’t drink the correct amounts of water you could become dehydrated or suffer from heat exhaustion.
You lose water through urination, respiration and by sweating. Very active people lose more water than sedentary people and if proper fluids are not taken in dehydration can occur quickly. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, your body needs water long before you feel thirsty.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Chronic pains in joints and muscles
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Strong odor and/or yellow or amber color to your urine
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to dehydration and an excessive loss of water and salt through sweating. Heat exhaustion typically happens after long periods of heat exposure.
Signs of heat exhaustion are:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Headache
- Pale, cool and moist skin
- Fast and weak pulse
- Disorientation
- Paleness
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness
- Fainting
If you suffer any of the following signs or symptoms of heat exhaustion you should stop what you are doing immediately and cool your body down by seeking shade, shelter or a cool room and drink cold fluids. Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe.
It may be difficult to drink enough water on a busy day, so make sure you have water handy at all times by keeping a bottle with you when you are working, traveling or exercising. If you get bored with plain water, spice it up by adding a bit of lemon or lime for a touch of flavor. There are some brands of flavored water available, but be sure to watch for extra calories.
Water is the most essential ingredient to a healthy life. It has many important functions in the body including:
- Transportation of nutrients and elimination of waste products
- Lubricating joints and tissues
- Temperature regulation through sweating
- Facilitating digestion
Proper hydration is especially important during physical exercise. The longer and more intensely you exercise, the more important it is to drink the right kinds of fluids like water. If you don’t drink the correct amounts of water you could become dehydrated or suffer from heat exhaustion.
You lose water through urination, respiration and by sweating. Very active people lose more water than sedentary people and if proper fluids are not taken in dehydration can occur quickly. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, your body needs water long before you feel thirsty.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Chronic pains in joints and muscles
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Strong odor and/or yellow or amber color to your urine
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to dehydration and an excessive loss of water and salt through sweating. Heat exhaustion typically happens after long periods of heat exposure.
Signs of heat exhaustion are:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Headache
- Pale, cool and moist skin
- Fast and weak pulse
- Disorientation
- Paleness
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness
- Fainting
If you suffer any of the following signs or symptoms of heat exhaustion you should stop what you are doing immediately and cool your body down by seeking shade, shelter or a cool room and drink cold fluids. Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe.
It may be difficult to drink enough water on a busy day, so make sure you have water handy at all times by keeping a bottle with you when you are working, traveling or exercising. If you get bored with plain water, spice it up by adding a bit of lemon or lime for a touch of flavor. There are some brands of flavored water available, but be sure to watch for extra calories.