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healths
Summer
heat increases dehydration
By Miguel Lopez
Summer Fortry-Niner
Summer weather drives people to the beaches, amusement parks
and to many outdoor activities that other seasons do not.
Along with the heat comes the risk of dehydration.
The high temperatures are a warning to people that the body
needs to consume more fluids, especially water, said Larry
Harvey, clinical coordinator of Student Health Services at
Cal State Long Beach.
The usual rule of thumb is eight, eight ounce glasses of water
per day for the average person, he said.
Many people, however, do not drink this much water a day,
Harvey added.
“There should never be more fluid coming out of the body,
via sweat or urine, than there is going into the body,” he
said. “It is recommended that people drink at least a certain
amount of water per day but most people don’t drink close
to that.”
“The most common signs of dehydration the people should look
for are dry lips, dry mouth and thirst,” Harvey said. “Hydration
can be treated very easily, but it can also become serious
enough to receive medical attention if it is taken lightly.”
Athletes are some of the most vulnerable people to dehydration
because of the constant sweating and high temperature the
body is exposed to while working out, said Geoff Masanet,
CSULB distance running coach.
Masanet said he stresses the importance of maintaining proper
fluids in the system to his runners.
“Of course the rule of thumb is the hotter it is the more
water you need to drink,” he said. “It is recommended that
the average person drinks eight glasses of a water per day,
athletes should drink double or triple that.”
Still, people have a wide array of thirst quenchers to chose
from. Masanet said he agrees that sports drinks do their part
of supplying lost nutrients, but water is always better.
“Sports drinks are fine after workouts because they help replace
nutrients lost, but if you’re sitting in class drinking something,
water is better instead of Gatorade,” he said. “Another benefit
athletes can reap from water is the body’s recovery from a
hard workout. Proper hydration is also good in that it helps
athletes recover faster if they have sore muscles.”
Summer day camps on campus like the Young Readers’ camp and
the 49er camp also have many outdoor activities.
“We do give kids water break during all activities and we
recommend for them to carry water bottles with them anytime
we go outdoors. We do not push the kids too far when its hot,”
said 49er camp secretary Amber Martinez. “Fortunately, we
haven’t had any incidents of dehydration or heat exposure.”
Harvey said he recommends that people should put off activities
until the evening when the temperature is not as high. He
also said to carry water to help keep hydrated throughout
the day.
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Todd Leland/Summer
On-line Forty-Niner
Susan Li
and granddaughter Daria, cool off on a warm summer day at
a campus water fountain.
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