Wellness

[halfpint1]

I was on my way to the grocery store when I didn't seem to feel well. I sat down there for a short time , got up and went to do my businessj. Lucky some one behind

me saw me falling and caught me. They also called the paramedics and I was taken to the hospital and given iv. I know I should take in more  water but I was never a water drinker or much of anything liquid.

Stay well everone.

[ChynnaBlue]

Not that I needed an IV to reverse, no. I used to work outdoors every summer, so since I was young I've heard the warnings about drinking more water when it's hotter out.

When it's not as hot out, I get headaches, dry eyes, and dry lips if I don't drink enough liquid, so that also keeps me in check.

[Q4u]

I have and it's not fun!  When I took and taught Karate it became apparent (especially in the summer) that I became dehydrated during the course of my classes and the classes I taught.  (I lost a lot of electrolytes & potassium through sweating).  

I found that if I drank 8 - 10oz of a Sports drink (I now have to have sugar free, but it does the same thing)....  I was fine, felt great and had the strength I needed.

I'm also not one that has ever drunk much, but I started to then, quite a bit of water and in addition some sports drink during the day.  I still do this, it also helps with leg cramps if you're prone to them......You'll be surprised at how much better you'll feel.    

[jlkz]

@halfpint1

Never had a hydration issue until I started to exercise.  Thanks goodness my annual physical took place soon after--I get my blood work and urine analysis done before the appt.  

My doctor was concerned because my sodium content was out of whack and blood tinge in the urine.  We figured out what caused it:  dehydration from sweating during exercising.  

Now I have a water bottle in my car and on the counter as a reminder to drink up.

Please get into the habit of drinking water:  good for flushing salts and bacteria out of the kidneys and bladder as well as keeping electrolytes in balance for your heart.

Imagine what could have happened if you fainted while driving a car or crossing a street !  Take care of your Self please.

[millieshops]

@halfpint1Yes -  very similar experience, but I actually fainted, twice!  Forunately, I was in a public place and people were wonderful -  I did end up in the ER overnight, but I was okay with that.  Superstorm Sandy was in charge here that day and going home alone where there was no electric/heat was even less appealing than a ride in the ambulance.

Given my age, everyone felt it must have been my heart -  but testing showed dehydration more than anything else.  I guess I forgot to crawl out from my bankets to drink enough before I left home to look for coffee!

[donuts]

I get badly dehydrated when taking an antibiotic......now that I know it, I drink as much Gatorade (Gatorade2 has less sugar) as possible .......I'm back to normal within an hour after drinking it........I never leave home without it and always have stocked in my fridge.......always always Gatorade..........

[MalteseMomma]

Pedialyte also helps for  repleninshing dehydration and great for leg cramps.  It's not just for kids ....

[ChynnaBlue]

---

@jlkz wrote:

@halfpint1

Never had a hydration issue until I started to exercise.  Thanks goodness my annual physical took place soon after--I get my blood work and urine analysis done before the appt.  

My doctor was concerned because my sodium content was out of whack and blood tinge in the urine.  We figured out what caused it:  dehydration from sweating during exercising.  

Now I have a water bottle in my car and on the counter as a reminder to drink up.

Please get into the habit of drinking water:  good for flushing salts and bacteria out of the kidneys and bladder as well as keeping electrolytes in balance for your heart.

Imagine what could have happened if you fainted while driving a car or crossing a street !  Take care of your Self please.

---

Keeping water accessible is so important, especially if people aren't used to drinking enough fluids.

I also have two wristbands and use the alarm systems in those to remember to drink more water, which has been very helpful.

Plain water isn't much fun, so I buy the water flavor enhancers, as well. Some are all natural and some are full of things I don't want, so read the labels if you buy any of those. I buy them 5 at a time so I can use a variety of flavors and keep it interesting. I also drink a lot of iced tea and have a lot of different tea flavors, as well.

[Bellabutterfly]

I have always been a big water dirinker.  

However, I always keep and have on hand "Gatorade". 

When my (hubby) is working outside he always has a "Gatorade" in hand.

I am currently on Chemo, and you have to drink even more..Very, very important.

10 Dehydration Symptoms

1.  Bad Breath

2.  Extra Yellow Pee

3.  Headache

4.  Fatigue Sets In

5.  No Tears (Crying and no tears coming out)

6.  Loss of Elasticity

7.  Body Overheats

8.  Muscle Cramps and Spasms

9.  Constipation

10. Light Headedness 

[Brooklynny]

Spoiler

I always carry a bottle of water with me whenever I leave the house, no matter where I'm going.  People don't realize how easy it is to become dehydrated.  Living in NYC, dealing with crowds, rushing around all the time, dealing with confined spaces (i.e., subways, subway stations that are 20 degrees hotter than it is on the street in summer, elevators, other crowded situations), the horrible heat and humidity we've had in July and August, etc. -- I've often felt "on the verge," and I'm glad I had that water with me.

 @donuts comment about antibiotics is spot on.  I've just finished a round of 1000 mg of antibiotics daily for a nasty, prolonged bout with bronchitis.  I had (and still have) a glass of water nearby and sip from it all day long.  

Also, the older you are, the easier it is to get dehydrated, and older people are notorious for not drinking adequately.  My parents did the same thing.  They would go for hours without drinking, and I always told them they had to drink more.  They would say, but I'm not thirsty.  If you wait until you're thirsty, it's already too late.  You don't have to chug down a gallon of water all at once (which is dangerous to do anyway), but just sipping water throughout the day is enough to prevent dehydration.