Hydration heads up

Marsha Cassada · Jun 16, 2014

Got a call yesterday evening at 7 pm. My widowed sister said she needed me. It takes us 20 minutes to get to town, so I called 911 and gave them her location. By the time we got to town, they had her at the hospital. She was disoriented, vomiting, diarrhea, and had blurred vision.

The blood work showed she was seriously dehydrated. They put her on fluids all night and released her this morning. The PA said gatorade was one of the worst things to drink, as the salt in it makes a person expel more fluid than he takes in. And the sugar is a dentist's dream. She thought drinking gatorade was better than drinking plain water.

There were two other admissions for dehydration that night. The nursing staff said they get quite a few cases in the summer.

Thank goodness it wasn't a stroke! It was something she can take care of with her own management.

She wouldn't think of working her horses in high heat index weather without water, but didn't think the same rules applied to herself.

So, heads up this summer! Everyone drink plenty of water!

lucky seven · Jun 16, 2014

Thanks for the info.

Reignmaker Miniatures · Jun 16, 2014

Good advice and a timely reminder Marsha. It is what we are made of and many of us forget to replace it as often as we should especially as the temperatures climb.

Riverrose28 · Jun 17, 2014

Year before last this happened to me, I drink alot of water but the nurse in the er said to drink vitamin water. I tried drinking some that I bought at walmart and it upset my stomach, so I'm sticking to water and ice tea without sugar. Hope your sister feels better soon.

bevann · Jun 17, 2014

I am 1 of those who gets easily dehydrated.I drink at least 1 gallon of water every day, but I sweat SO MUCH that in very hot weather almost no urine output.I stay away from tea and coffee since they are both diuretics.Water with lemon is my choice.My non drinking horses get their meals in water.If they want to eat they must suck the food out of the water.I REALLY dislike hot humid weather and can't wait until it is over.