Common Mistakes Made Regarding Hydration

Only Drinking Water When Active or It's Hot

One common mistake individuals make is only drinking water when active or when it's hot. Individuals do need to drink more water when it's hot out or when exercising, but these aren't the only times when water is necessary. Many individuals drink soda, juice, milk, and other caffeinated beverages instead of water. Alternatively, they may not drink beverages at all. Then, when it gets hotter outside or they're engaging in exercise, they drink water. Hot weather leads the body to become dehydrated more easily. But if an individual is already dehydrated before they go outside, they're at a much higher risk of developing a heat-related illness. The same is true of exercising. Experts recommend hydrating before beginning an exercise, during the exercise itself, and afterward. Vigorous physical activity is supposed to make individuals thirsty, and it's good to drink water during it. But if individuals are not drinking water at other times of the day as well, they'll hurt their overall hydration levels. On top of this, individuals should try to drink fluids that help replenish electrolytes when they exercise.

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Drinking Too Much Too Quickly

Drinking too much too quickly can be as bad for hydration as not drinking enough. Many individuals get caught up in a cycle of forgetting to drink, feeling thirsty, drinking too much water, and then getting thirsty again. It's better to sip water throughout the day in small doses than to drink a lot at once. There's actually a medical condition called water intoxication that occurs when a patient's brain function becomes disrupted from excess consumption of water. When individuals drink a great deal of water at once, the amount of water in the blood increases. This can lead to a dilution of electrolytes, particularly sodium. Low sodium levels cause many problems throughout the body. In the most severe cases, they can affect brain cells. Fluid on the outside of the cells moves inside the cells instead, which leads to swelling. The effects of water intoxication are dangerous enough to be life-threatening. Even if individuals don't experience water intoxication, drinking too much water isn't good for their body's ability to regulate itself.

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