Staying Hydrated This Summer

Water composes from 55 to 75 percent of the human body. Usually, we take in enough H2O to meet our needs and maintain the right levels of that indispensable nutrient. But it鈥檚 easy, especially during the hot summer months, to lose water through perspiration, and we may lose more of it than we take in.听

鈥淲e need water to protect our organs and our joints, regulate our body temperature and blood pressure, and help with digestion,鈥 says Isabel Reckson, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist听 at 日本av色情片. 鈥淲ater also plays an important role in helping us stay focused and attentive.鈥澨

Dehydration becomes an issue during hot weather, she explains, as well as during an illness and when taking certain medications. Babies and younger children along with older adults are at highest risk of becoming dehydrated.听

Read on for Reckson鈥檚 best advice on helping children stay hydrated and taking care of your own water needs at the same time鈥攖his summer and all year long.听

What are the guidelines for hydration in infants and children?

The guidelines vary, depending on a child鈥檚 activity level, size and age. The general recommendations are:

  • Children between 1 and 3 years: 4 cups of fluid per day
  • Children 4 to 8 years: about 5 cups per day听
  • Children over 8: 8 cups or more per day听

Infants over 6 months who are eating solids generally need much less water than older kids: about 2 to 8 ounces a day.

Do flavored waters count toward my child鈥檚 recommended water intake?

Generally, yes. However, not all beverages are the same. Reckson calls attention to beverages featured on TikTok (a favored social media platform among tweens and teens) that contain artificial or alternative sweeteners such as Stevia, monk fruit, sucralose and aspartame. These are recognized as safe when ingested in moderation. For kids, though, 鈥渢here are concerns around whether diet drinks actually make them hungrier, or whether they may have negative effects on heart health or behavior down the road.听

鈥泪t鈥檚 okay to have an occasional diet soda or vitamin water zero, but I wouldn鈥檛 use these as a replacement for water,鈥 she continues. 鈥泪nstead, I鈥檇 choose fruit-infused or naturally flavored waters that aren鈥檛 sweetened with an artificial sweetener or with sugar, for that matter.鈥

What are the signs and symptoms of dehydration?

The easiest way to see if your child is hydrated is to check their urine. If it鈥檚 dark yellow, orange or brown, there鈥檚 dehydration going on, with brown urine indicating the most severe level. 鈥淲hat we want to look for is pale yellow,鈥 says Reckson.

The signs and symptoms of mild dehydration may also include dizziness, lightheadedness and less urine overall. Fewer wet diapers may also be a sign that your infant or toddler is dehydrated. You may also notice that your child has a dry tongue, lips, mouth and throat.听

Severe dehydration can cause lethargy, cold hands and feet, faster breathing, a faster-than-normal heart rate, irritability and confusion.听

Symptoms can be similar in adults and kids, but adults may also experience the following:

  • excessive sweating, urination or thirst
  • dry skin
  • dizziness
  • lethargy

And severe dehydration in adults may cause:

  • confusion or memory loss
  • a weak or rapid pulse
  • sunken eyes
  • fainting

In the case of severe dehydration, reach out to your family physician or, depending on the level of concern, go to the Emergency Room so that you, or your child, can receive IV fluids.

How can I tell if it鈥檚 okay to administer rehydration measures at home?

The best thing to do is ask your pediatrician or family physician whether they think it鈥檚 safe to rehydrate at home or whether you need to be seen.听

Your doctor may recommend that you or your child drink an oral rehydration solution, which is a mix of water and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. You can purchase oral rehydration solution at your local pharmacy.

Says Reckson, sports beverages like Gatorade aren鈥檛 exactly the same as oral rehydration solutions. They can be helpful to prevent dehydration when your child is very active. However, they are generally not necessary for sports and day-to-day activities.鈥

Does the foregoing advice apply to adults as well?

Absolutely. Older adults may be just as vulnerable to dehydration as babies and small children. For instance, people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or kidney problems may sweat and urinate more often than those who don鈥檛 have these conditions.

To prevent dehydration before it occurs, adults are advised to drink extra fluids when it鈥檚 hot or when 迟丑别测鈥檙别 sick. The National Academy of Medicine recommends about 13 cups of water per day for healthy men and 9 cups for women.

And when in doubt, use the urine test to measure hydration. Pale yellow urine usually indicates adequate hydration, while dark urine may be a sign of dehydration.

Tips for keeping your child hydrated this summer

  • Make sure they drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
  • Be a role model! Make hydration a family affair.听
  • Send your child to the playground or day camp with a water bottle.
  • Older kids do well with motivational water bottles boasting a 鈥渃hart鈥 that reminds them of their goals for how much water to drink at different times of day.
  • Put fruit infusers in your child鈥檚 water bottle, or add slices of citrus, berries, pineapple, melon or even cucumber.
  • Include silly straws, fun cups, or decorate water bottles with stickers.
  • Offer your child a beverage at every meal and between meals.
  • Include hydrating foods such as watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit, berries, cucumber, lettuce, celery, tomatoes and homemade popsicles.听

鈥nd don鈥檛 forget to drink plenty of fluids yourself!

Bring your questions about keeping your child healthy this summer鈥攐r staying healthy yourself鈥攖o your doctor at 日本av色情片 by making an appointment here.

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