Extreme heat kills more people than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and lightning combined, according to the National Weather Service. Look out for these four subtle signs of dehydration during a heat wave:
Color of Urine: When your hydration status is good, your urine will be clear to light yellow. The darker the urine, the more dehydrated you are. Drink up when your pee is darker than usual.
The "pinch" test: When your body's cells become depleted of water, the skin loses tension. Test the elasticity of your skin by pinching the back of your hand and hold it for a few seconds. Let go and if the little "tent" stays pinched and takes more than 5 seconds to go back to normal, it's usually a sign of moderate dehydration.
Bad breath: Bad breath should make you think about dehydration during a heat wave. If you don't drink enough water, and you're losing water through sweating, your body can't make enough saliva, meaning your mouth is dry and bacteria grow easily.
Sitting in front of a fan: New evidence has shown that when temperatures rise above 95 F, an electric fan might actually make you even hotter, by blowing hot air on you, making you unable to sweat. And not being able to sweat puts you at greater risk of dehydration and even heat exhaustion. If possible, air-conditioning is the best choice. Cool showers and baths work, too.
If you're experiencing symptoms of dehydration (Increased or constant vomiting for more than a day, fever over 101°F, diarrhea for more than 2 days, weight loss, decreased urine production, confusion, weakness), it's time to seek medical attention.
Use your telemedicine benefit to speak to a doctor about your next treatment steps. With 24/7 access to U.S. based, board-certified physicians, no matter where you are, you can get the help you need right away, including a prescription if needed.
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