Medical Minutes: Hydration in the heat – know the risk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) -Â Here in Yuma where summer temperatures routinely climb above 110 degrees, staying hydrated isn't just a health tip, it can save your life.
Dr. Donald Hubbard, Medical Director and Emergency Medicine Physician at Exceptional Community Hospital talks about the dangers of dehydration and how it can lead to serious health-related illnesses.
Dr. Hubbard says dehydration can happen quickly.
"You can get dehydrated very quickly. It just takes really a few minutes, especially if you're not used to the heat. If you come from up north, the heat will get to you really quickly," he said.
Hubbard shares some common signs to tell if your dehydrated.
"You're just gonna feel very fatigued. You're gonna have no energy. That's the sign you're getting dehydrated. The next thing is you may start to have a little bit of trouble concentrating. When you get severely dehydrated, you stop sweating, and that's when you really need to pay attention because after that it gets worse quickly," he explained.
Hubbard mentions the proper way to hydrate.
"The number one fluid that we recommend is water. I know that's not, um maybe a popular idea, but water has everything you need. It's water has water and that's what you need. You should get enough electrolytes, enough sodium, enough potassium to your diet to keep those levels generally high," he said.
