Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

After reading Adria’s entry about combating dehydration, I sympathized with her fully.

• A mile in my Birks » Dehydration

I have had a much less intense experience with dehydration almost every time we camp. Because we have to haul in our water, it’s a precious commodity, so I am reluctant to drink as much as I need in this 103 degree weather. Her description fits to a tee:

My throat was burning, my head was pounding, and every muscle in my body hurt. I spent the rest of the day in bed but my body was wracked with pain & I couldn’t sleep.

Yeah, that pounding headache? It’s almost as bad as a migraine. I’ve mistaken it for a migraine in the past. The only difference is that half my face doesn’t go numb with dehydration.

For the full symptoms of dehydration, see here:

• Dehydration – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They aren’t easy symptoms to recognize at first, but if you are listening to your body, you should be able to catch them:

• Headaches similar to what is experienced during a hangover
• Visual snow
• Decreased blood pressure (hypotension)
• Dizziness or fainting when standing up due to orthostatic hypotension.

Adria drank Pedialyte to feel better, but they recommend water.

The best treatment for minor dehydration is drinking water and stopping fluid loss. Water is preferable to sport drinks and other commercially-sold rehydration fluids, as the balance of electrolytes they provide may not match the replacement requirements of the individual.

I’ve found that Gatorade watered down half and half works best for me, but each person is different. If you’re able to recognize the symptoms of dehydration quickly, then you won’t get a more severe case. Be careful out there. Sunburn isn’t the only way the sun can knock you out.