Dehydration

Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink!

Avoiding Dehydration

Summer is almost here and dehydration can affect your operation of a motorcycle. During those hot summer days it is easy to get dehydrated without realizing it.

Water is one of the most important nutrients in our body. It makes up approximately 70 percent of our muscles, and about 75 percent of our brains. We use water as well as expend it. In fact, in everyday breathing we lose about two cups of water. If we fail to replenish these losses, we set ourselves up to become dehydrated.

If left untreated, dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. These symptoms include: fatigue, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, rapid shallow breathing, high temperatures, rapid heart beat, and decreased alertness or complete loss of consciousness.

Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on a computer screen or printed page. Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

Tips

Drink plenty of fluids, on average it is recommended to consume at least 8- eight ounce glasses of fluid a day

Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol, both contain substances that will cause dehydration

Avoid carbonated beverages because the carbonation may cause bloating or a feeling of fullness and prevent adequate consumption of fluids

Wear light colored, absorbable, loose fitting Clothes

Stay in cool, shaded areas and protect your skin with sun block whenever possible

Adapted from: Preventing Dehydration and Heat Illness; American College of Emergency Physicians and Preventing Dehydration January 1998.