DO SWEAT THE HEAT....DEHYDRATION IS SERIOUS

By Vicki Rackner, M.D.

Jonathon visited his mother during a heat wave. As he went to get his third glass of water, he noticed his mother’s glass was untouched. He said, “Mom, it’s hot out! You need to drink.” His mother replied, “I’m fine dear. I’m not thirsty one bit.”

You’re adequately hydrated if you’re not thirsty, right? WRONG! Thirst is not a reliable gauge of your body’s fluid needs, especially in the elderly.

Summer heat increases your risk for dehydration. Dehydration is serious. Even a mild imbalance of water can cause serious medical problems. According to the National Center for Disease Control, more Americans die of extreme heat exposure than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

Any fire-fighter will tell you that as the temperature goes up in a heat wave, medics respond to many more calls about elderly people who are dizzy or weak or even fainting. In most cases the medics find the health problems are a result of dehydration. Dehydration places the elderly at risk for medical problems that run the gamut from annoying symptoms like headaches to life-threatening events like heart failure or stroke.

Let’s make the lives of all those hard-working fire-fighters and medics easier by helping our loved ones avoid heat-related medical problems. It’s easy. Just help them keep cool and help them stay hydrated.

Here are some tips to stay hydrated on those hot summer days:

Remind your loved ones to drink regularly even if they’re not thirsty. Remind your kids, too. Better yet, ask your kids to remind you and their grandparents to drink.
Ask about the color of your loved one’s urine. The color of your urine is a reliable indicator of your water balance. If you’re well-hydrated, your urine is clear or light-colored; if you’re dehydrated your urine is dark yellow or amber.
Choose your fluids wisely. In general, water is the best drink. You can add a slice of lemon or lime. Alcohol and caffeine tend to have a diuretic effect, which means that they cause a net withdrawal from the fluid bank rather than a deposit.
Stay cool. Go to the air-conditioned library or senior center or mall.
Know the signs of dehydration. The earliest signs include fatigue, weakness, and poor concentration. Headache, dizziness and fainting are associated with even mild dehydration.
Check with your doctor if you’re on diuretics (“water pills”) or fluid restrictions.
Never leave anyone in a closed parked car with the windows shut.
Avoid errands in the mid-day sun. Try instead to be out and about during the coolest times.