Dehydration
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.
