One day before participating
in a strenuous exercise, begin hydrating yourself by drinking much more
water than usual.
If you can, carry around with you a good size refillable water bottle
and keep drinking regularly. Come prepared for your activity
by bringing more water or sports drink (such as Gatorade) than you
think you need. Drink small amounts often.
Know
your dehydration level as it's happening.
Monitor
your state of dehydration in real-time as it's happening.
One interesting way is to use a
dehydration watch. These watches actually calculate your
fluid loss as it's happening depending on the level of activity and
your weight.
Dehydration Watch
The Acumen Hydra-Alert Jr. dehydration
watch (see on left) with Fluid Check(tm) helps to
monitor dehydration during physical activity by calculating +
displaying fluid loss in oz/ml, & as a % of total body weight
lost in oz/ml.
OK,
it happened, I'm badly dehydrated. What now?
When
symptoms of dehydration occur , you'll want to take steps to
immediately avoid any further sweating.
Get in the shade or inside into a cool (preferably air conditioned)
spot. Start drinking plenty of water or a sports drink but avoid too
much immediately (too much too soon may induce vomiting which may worsen
dehydration symptoms). Lie down
with feet propped up & take off any excess clothing. Get professional
help if your symptoms are severe.
Urine
- a great indicator.
How dehydrated are you? If you knew you could take steps to
correct it.
Believe it or not, whether or not you feel thirsty is not
a good hydration indicator. However one fairly reliable way to
tell is by looking at (& smelling) your own urine. If it's white
like water, you've probably had plenty of fluids and you're most
likely properly hydrated. If it's dark yellow (also possibly
smelly) you're may well be dehydrated and it's probably time to
start drinking plenty of water. Anywhere in between is closer to
being normally hydrated.
NOTE: Other factors may contribute to urine coloration and this
is not an exact science. However it is remarkably accurate.
Oral Rehydration Solution
Nearly 50% of
international travelers suffer from diarrhea. This is the official
rehydration formula of the World Health Organization. Plain water
is ineffective in replacing what the body loses during diarrheal
illness, vomiting, and dehydration.
The
more you know beforehand, the better.
Educate yourself about
dehydration.
The more you know in advance the more it can be both prevented and
treated effectively. If this page isn't enough, we recommend this
VHS Video which examines dehydration
in detail.
Donations are welcomed & appreciated. This website is a one-man operation.
Keep spirits high, effort maximized & costs down
by contributing any amount financially. Find out more or click below to donate
now.
Disclaimer:
All statements provided on
this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration and may contain errors. The information contained
herein is not intended to replace or contradict any advice or
recommendations provided by a licensed medical professional or
clinical practitioner.
Please
exercise extreme caution and do your own additional due diligence
if you intend to use any or all information provided herein. Blezz.com assumes no responsibility
to the said effectiveness of any or all of the suggested tips, treatments or
potential cures listed on this page. Individual results may vary greatly depending on the user,
the current state of the users physical and/or mental health, age,
willpower or other contributing factors. You may also wish to consult with a
qualified professional before proceeding.]
Prepare
in advance, avoid a problem later.
