Even though it’s the middle of fall and heading into winter, dehydration might still pose a threat on those sporadic, heat-filled days. Here are a few types of dehydration and how they can be prevented.

WHAT IS DEHYDRATION?

• Dehydration is when the amount of water leaving the body exceeds the amount entering it.
• Water constitutes 75 percent of the body’s water weight.
• The body loses water when it sweats, breathes, urinates or when humidified air evaporates.

WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION?

The first two signs are immediate responses of the body; the following signs might occur if the level of water loss continues to increase.

• Thirst
• Decreased urine output to conserve water in the body
• Dry mouth
• Muscle cramps
• Sweating cessation
• Eyes stop making tears
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness

HOW CAN DEHYDRATION BE PREVENTED?

According to the Web site, prevention is the first step in treating dehydration.

• Exercise: People exercising in a hot environment or for a long period of time need to drink adequate amounts of water. Studies show that the normal human body needs eight glasses of water to be hydrated; when you exercise rigorously, you need more than eight glasses.
• Environment: Dehydration due to changes in the weather can be prevented. If you get easily dehydrated, try not to schedule outdoor activities during the hottest times of the day (11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), or, if you do, be sure to drink an adequate amount of fluids before and after your activities.

For more information on dehydration, visit the MedicineNet Web site at: http://www.medicinenet.com/dehydration/article.htm.