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Preventing dehydration
Ebony, Feb, 2006
Q With so many people working out regularly and leading active lives, I hear more and more about the importance of remaining hydrated. But I never hear the problems associated with being dehydrated. Are there signs that indicate dehydration, and how serious is it?
L.J., Cleveland
A Doctors say water comprises more than 70 percent of the human body and that any level of dehydration can have serious consequences. Dehydration, the lack of enough fluid in the body, can cause muscle cramps, dizziness and exhaustion. In severe cases, you no longer have enough fluid in the body to get blood to your organs, which could prompt a life-threatening condition like shock.
Fitness experts point out that most people lose as much as a quart of fluid during an hour of exercise. To assure that you are properly hydrated at all times, it's recommended that you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day; drink extra water before, during and after exercise; avoid caffeinated and alcoholic drinks; and refrain from taking salt tablets. If concerned about replacing minerals lost through sweating, consider sports drinks, doctors say.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
