Dehydration is more than the “thirsty” feeling you get throughout the day. In fact, when you are “thirsty” it’s already too late. Dehydration is when your body is fluid depleted. Every day we lose water, from sweat to urine; therefore, it’s important that we can identify the signs of dehydration and know how to prevent dehydration.

Some of the symptoms include:

• Increased thirst i.e. “thirstiness"

• Dry mouth and swollen tongue

• Dizziness

• Unsteadiness/Weakness

• Headache

• Blurry vision

• Confusion

• Sluggishness/Fainting

You can also detect hydration by examine your urine color. If your urine is dark/concentrated it means you’re dehydrated and need to drink more water.

Prevention:

• Plan ahead: start hydrating a day in advance if you know you’re going to be out in the sun or participating in an intense workout.

• Take breaks and hydrate frequently

• Listen to your body: if you start to feel faint or dizzy, stop and rest while continuing to drink water.

For situations where you anticipate sweating profusely,  consider using salt tablets and hydrate with sports drinks that have electrolytes.

For our coffee and wine lovers, make sure you’re taking in just as much water because these substances cause dehydration with every sip. As well, if you’re taking any medications make sure you check with your doctor about the need to stay hydrated.