Water Vital In Summer

BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Hospital’s chairman of medicine is reminding people to drink plenty of water to maintain their health, especially during the summer months.

“Water protects and lubricates your joints, regulates your body temperature, helps you turn the food you eat into energy and helps your body eliminate waste products,” explains Dr Nicholas Dainiak. “You can survive without food for up to six weeks, but without water, you won’t last more than one week.”

People can lose as many as two to three quarts of water a day just by breathing, perspiring and urinating. Those who drink several alcoholic or caffeinated beverages may lose more water because these liquids are diuretics (they make the kidneys give up more urine than usual.) In addition, many prescription drugs can dry out the body.

If people fail to drink enough water to replenish these losses, they can become dehydrated, which can potentially result in hospitalization. According to Dr Dainiak, warning signs of dehydration can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, persistent high temperature, dry lips or tongue, infrequent dark-colored urine, light-headedness, and loss of energy. Other possible symptoms are dry skin, muscle or joint soreness, and persistent constipation.

“If you think you may be dehydrated, either short-term or more persistently, make sure to drink eight glasses of water per day — and for each drink of alcohol or caffeine, have an extra glass of water,” Dr Dainiak recommends.