4 Tips for Staying Hydrated in the Heat | Tennessee Valley Urology Center

We may not often think about dehydration during the winter and early spring months, but as the weather warms up in the Tennessee Valley, those hot temperatures will make sure the topic is on our mind.

Hydration is important year-round, but it’s especially important when your body is sweating more due to the temperature.

Since drinking enough water throughout the day is vital to the health of your kidneys, our team at Tennessee Valley Urology Center wants some tips on staying hydrated.

The Effects of Dehydration

During the hot summer months, it is extremely easy to get dehydrated. By the time you realize you’re thirsty, you can already be dehydrated.

When you experience dehydration, a number of health conditions can occur, including:

  • Heat injury
  • Swelling of the brain (cerebral edema)
  • Seizures electrolytes
  • Low blood volume shock (hypovolemic shock)
  • Kidney failure
  • Coma

Those health conditions can be dire, which is why it is so important to remain hydrated.

How to Stay Hydrated

First, you want to make sure that you are not waiting until you are thirsty to drink water. As we mentioned above, by the time your body tells you it’s thirsty, you may already be dehydrated.

Instead, you want to make sure you are sipping on water throughout the day.

Second, you want to remember that drinking water isn’t the only way to stay hydrated. You can also eat fruits and vegetables in order to remain even more hydrated throughout the day. Many fruits and veggies have a high water content, meaning they will help replenish the fluids in your body.

Also, make sure that you are carrying with you a reusable water bottle so that you can continue to fill it up throughout the day and never be without water.

Finally, when exercising, you need to make sure you drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your workout. While water is usually sufficient to keep you hydrated, if you’re working out outdoors or otherwise sweating excessively, you may also need to replenish the electrolytes in your body. Choose a low-calorie or no-calorie electrolyte fluid, like Gatorade Zero, if you need an extra electrolyte boost.

Are you looking for ways to improve your overall urological health? Give our team at Tennessee Valley Urology Center a call today to schedule an appointment!