Yet more hot weather is forecast for the UK this week as the fourth heatwave of the year sweeps across the country. Temperatures could reach as high as 35C today across southeastern England and amber heat health alerts have been issued for much of the area. There are yellow warnings across the South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire & The Humber as well.
With temperatures skyrocketing, it’s crucial that people be aware of the signs of dehydration and do what they can to stop them before they start. Many people know to drink water when they feel thirsty — but thirst is actually a sign that dehydration has already begun.
Signs of dehydration
According to the NHS, the following are signs of dehydration:
- feeling thirsty
- headache and feeling light-headed
- dark yellow, strong-smelling pee
- peeing less often than usual
- feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- feeling tired
- a dry mouth, lips and tongue
- sunken eyes
In babies, the signs of dehydration are:
To combat becoming dehydrated in hot weather, it’s important to drink water throughout the day rather than just chugging a pint of it when you start to get a headache.
If you struggle to drink water, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has several suggestions on how to make it easier and more pleasant.
Plenty of people find it tricky to drink enough water, whether it’s because they forget or simply don’t enjoy it, but it is crucial to make sure you — and those in your care — drink enough.
How to drink enough water
One of the things the BHF recommends is setting reminders to drink water which go off throughout the day to jog your memory. You can also build a habit of drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up, while you watch TV, or during your morning commute, so that you create a habit that sticks.
You can also make it more pleasant by adding natural flavourings such as a slice of lemon, sprig of mint or cucumber. Even investing in a nice water bottle and keeping it beside you can encourage you to drink more water.
If you are caring for someone else, such as a child, older person or a vulnerable person, it’s important they are drinking enough water as well.
The NHS recommends ensuring they drink water at meal times, or offering them foods with high water content. Things like jellies, melon, and ice cream are all recommended on the NHS website.
For young children and babies, you can carry on breastfeeding or giving formula — try offering small amounts more often than usual.
If your baby is over six months old and on formula or solid food, offer them small sips of water. For babies under six months, boil the water first and let it cool before giving it to them.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
