The Importance of Hydration
Be honest. How many cups of water do you drink each day? After you have your number, guess how many cups of water you shouldbe drinking each day?
Men should drink around 16 cups and women should drink around 11 cups every day! Now that you know the stats, look at your original answer and reflect on how much water you consume on average.
With summer in full swing and constant record-breaking heat, staying hydrated is more important than ever. One of the main benefits of drinking water is that it helps your body cool down. Drinking water helps your body produce more sweat, which then helps your body temperature remain normal. This can help prevent heat stroke, heat exhaustion, severe dehydration, and more.
We know drinking water can be boring and at times challenging, especially when an ice-cold soda or glass of sweet tea is calling your name. We want to really emphasize the importance of staying hydrated and the health benefits you will embrace.
Understanding Why Hydration Matters
There are many crucial reasons why you should strive to stay hydrated:
Regulates Body Temperature
Keeps joints lubricated
Prevents infections
Delivers nutrients to cells
Keeps organs functioning properly
Flushes out toxins
Improves sleep
Improves cognition
Improves mood
Reduces headaches
You don’t have to drink just water to stay hydrated! Hot or iced tea (preferably unsweet) is a great way to get water into your system. If you have been outside in the sun, drink something with electrolytes, like a sports drink, to help keep your hydration levels up!
Signs of Dehydration
Your body has a lot of physical tells that you are dehydrated. If you notice these symptoms, you need to drink more water to prevent extreme dehydration which could send you to our Emergency Room. Dehydration can happen to anyone, but it is especially dangerous for young children and older adults. Listen to your body and pay attention to anything that is out of the norm. Some easy symptoms to look out for are:
Feeling thirsty
Dark yellow/strong smelling urine
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Feeling tired/fatigued
Dry mouth, lips, and eyes
Less frequent urination
Headaches
Confusion
Mild to moderate dehydration can usually be fixed by drinking more fluids, but severe dehydration needs immediate medical treatment.
What can you do to stay hydrated?
There are many tips and tricks that help millions of people reach their water goals. The key to staying consistent is finding out what works best for you! If what you have been doing has inconsistent results, try a new method. Don’t like those big bulky water jugs? That’s okay! You can use your favorite normal sized water bottle or cup and just refill it when you’re done. Don’t like regular plain water? Try adding some fresh flavors, like lemon, mint, cucumber, etc. Need a reminder? Set an alarm on your phone or watch exclusively for a water break. The most important part of this is finding out what your routine will be and holding yourself accountable. Staying hydrated will not only give you healthy benefits, but it will have positive long-term effects also.
Ready when you need us
Regardless of what type of medical situation you may be facing, Community First ER is here to help. There’s no need to make an appointment, and you won’t have to wait. Our board-certified physicians and nurses will always be ready to see you. We understand that emergencies aren’t always convenient, which is why we do everything we can to make your experience with us as hassle-free as possible. From the moment you arrive at Community First ER to the moment you leave us our compassionate and knowledgeable staff will take care of you or your family member appropriately. If your condition warrants transportation to a local hospital, we can easily arrange this using our ambulance and helipad services. Our 9,000 square foot facility includes an onsite lab, radiology, and imaging services and is equipped to provide adult, pediatric, and adolescent emergency and critical care. We strive to provide the most effective and most efficient medical care in a stress-free and comfortable environment.
We are here to help
At Community First ER, we are committed to providing you the best possible care now and always. With adult and pediatric emergency care available, we have a team of board-certified medical and surgical specialists we consult to help manage our patients and their medical emergencies. We form relationships with local doctors to ensure that our patients have access to the best specialists for their individual needs. You can call ahead and discuss your symptoms at any time.
We are Community First Emergency Room – committed to putting your community, health, and YOU FIRST, every day.
If you are a loved one experiencing an urgent or emergency medical issue, please contact us right away at 281-343-3134.
About Community First ER
Emergency health care is a critical resource. Our commitment is to provide a personal, transparent, and concierge-driven emergency health care experience to our community members. Locally owned and operated by health care providers and partners we trust, we strive to support and create meaningful relationships with those around us. We exist to put your health and wellness first. For more information, visit our website at https://communityfirster.com/ and engage with us on social media!