The UK heatwave- let’s keep ourselves safe
We’ve all seen the super hot weather that has hit the UK in the last few days (1.) It’s great that its happened but there is a more serious side to it. At this time of year many hundreds if not thousands of people will be admitted to hospital due to dehydration.
It can be life threatening.
If you are not well hydrated your blood can become thicker literally like treacle. You just try pumping treacle around your bloodstream and its virtually impossible. In extreme cases it can lead to kidney failure and death.
However it can be easily avoided.
What I’d like you to do is set your timer on your mobile phone for 5 minutes. When it goes off just take a sip of water. Don’t go mad with it- just take a sip of water.
I know what you are saying now “I’ll end up going to the bathroom 10 times a day.”
I can live with that!
I would rather you go to the bathroom 10 times a day than be admitted to hospital with dehydration!
I want you to drink sufficient tap water that your urine goes colourless.
Now if you have any elderly friends, relatives or neighbours ensure that they do this. We don’t want them admitted to hospital.
I want you all to be so healthy that you only see your doctors socially. I don’t want you to see them professionally. I want you all to be so healthy that the only time you see your doctor is for your annual check up at which point your doctor says everything is OK and you’ll be seen again in a year.
All you need to do is set your mobile phone to buzz every 5 minutes and then when it buzzes take a mouthful of water.
No tea, coffee or alcohol
As tempting as it may seem at this time of year no tea, no coffee or alcohol. They dehydrate you.
Please stay indoors between 10am-2pm because that’s when the temperature is hottest.
What I suggest you do
Get some cold water in a glass container and keep it in your fridge. I keep 3 or 4 such containers so as one is being used the water in the others is cooling.
The goal is to ensure that your urine becomes colourless. If we can all do this it will go a long way to ensure that nobody goes to hospital due to dehyrdration.
Everybody is different and I would suggest 6 pints of water a day spread over 12 hours. Your energy levels will rocket.
Avoid things that dehydrate e.g. tea, coffee and alcohol.
Having a high water content lifestyle can go a long way to avoid high blood pressure. Imagine stirring some sugar in water. The more concentrated it is the more effort you have to make. The more dilute it is the less effort you have to make. I have often wondered why doctors who are treating high blood pressure don’t get their patients to drink more water.
Resources
Signs of Dehydration Seven symptoms that may indicate you need to drink more water.
http://jamesbondhealthandfitness.fitpromag.com/7/1/2019/Article/Health4/
Bibliography
UK heatwave: Was Thursday the hottest day on record? 26th July 2019 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49132575
