02/10/2023
Summer heat can lead to dehydration: How to prevent and treat it?
For many of us, warm summer days are synonymous with holidays and pleasant moments spent by the water. However, high summer temperatures also pose a threat in the form of possible dehydration, which can be very dangerous for the human body. How does dehydration manifest itself and what to do if dehydration occurs?
Dehydration is a risk for adults and children in summer
Did you know that more people than usual get sick during hot summer days? Some of the biggest culprits for the increased risk of heat-related illness in summer include inadequate water intake or dehydration, excessive sweating, overheating of the body and heat stroke.
Seniors, children, people with chronic or acute illnesses, and people who spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer are more susceptible to dehydration on hot summer days.
How does dehydration affect adults?
What are the warning signs that you are experiencing dehydration? The initial signs of dehydration in adults include feeling thirsty and dark urine. Mild dehydration also manifests itself with dry lips, fatigue, headache, constipation, dry skin, and light-headedness when getting up quickly.
And the symptoms of moderate to severe dehydration? In addition to severe thirst, they include low blood pressure, rapid pulse, muscle cramps, pale skin, and rapid shallow breathing.
And what are the symptoms of dehydration in babies and children?
In children, the symptoms of dehydration can vary based on age. In babies or toddlers, dehydration is usually manifested by dry, chapped lips, dry tongue, and less frequent urination.
Symptoms of dehydration in older children include headaches, fatigue, constipation, dark urine, or dizziness, which are similar to symptoms in adults.
What are the risks of dehydration?
Severe dehydration can lead to serious health complications in both adults and children, including electrolyte imbalances, heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, kidney problems, shock, coma or even death. If you observe signs of severe dehydration on yourself or your children, seek medical attention immediately.
What causes dehydration?
Dehydration is a deficiency of water in the body. It is a condition during which the body loses so much body fluid that it cannot function normally. Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in. It is therefore necessary to monitor your fluid balance.
Dehydration most often occurs on hot summer days or when you are experiencing fever, diarrhoea or vomiting. Dehydration can also occur if you are not taking in enough fluids or taking certain medications that increase urine output.
How to prevent dehydration in summer days?
More tips on how to prevent dehydration in summer
Think about taking in fluids throughout the day. Ideally, you should drink as soon as you wake up and keep water at hand throughout the day so you don't forget to replenish fluids. Ideally, you should drink still water, unsweetened tea, or mineral water. Alcohol, soft and caffeinated drinks should be avoided.
What to do if dehydration occurs?
When dehydration has already occurred, the basic solution is to rehydrate, i.e. to replenish your drinking regime. Experts advise ideally to take drinks containing electrolytes in addition to plain water.
What are electrolytes? Ionized forms of minerals, which include sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate. Each of these minerals performs a specific function in the body. If there is a deficiency of any of these due to excessive sweating, it will negatively affect our health.
How to prevent dehydration in summer days?
The easiest way to prevent dehydration in children and adults on hot summer days is to drink enough. How much water should you drink each day in summer?
As you can sweat several liters a day in summer, you need to take in increased amounts of fluids on hot days. According to experts, you should take in around 30 to 45 ml of fluid for every kilogram of weight, which is roughly 2.1 to 3.2 liters of fluid per day for a 70 kg person. However, this figure should only be used if you do not play sport during the day, as the amount of fluid should be increased during physical activity and outdoor exercise.
More tips on how to prevent dehydration in summer
Think about taking in fluids throughout the day. Ideally, you should drink as soon as you wake up and keep water at hand throughout the day so you don't forget to replenish fluids. Ideally, you should drink still water, unsweetened tea, or mineral water. Alcohol, soft and caffeinated drinks should be avoided.
What to do if dehydration occurs?
When dehydration has already occurred, the basic solution is to rehydrate, i.e. to replenish your drinking regime. Experts advise ideally to take drinks containing electrolytes in addition to plain water.
What are electrolytes? Ionized forms of minerals, which include sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate. Each of these minerals performs a specific function in the body. If there is a deficiency of any of these due to excessive sweating, it will negatively affect our health.
TIP: ELOTRANS® rehydration sachets
To rehydrate the body and replenish electrolytes, ELOTRANS Reload® is designed to help balance fluid and electrolytes. it is a food supplement. For babies and children, medicinal product ORALPÄDON® 240 is available in several flavours - neutral, strawberry and apple/banana.
ELOTRANS® reload is a food supplement with sugar and sweeteners. It is an isotonic electrolyte glucose mixture containing magnesium that contributes to electrolyte balance.
Label.BlogRelatedPostsText
