In extreme heat or not, it's very important to stay hydrated - Florida Times-Union

With the extreme heat, and even in less extreme temperatures, those who spend any time outside must stay properly hydrated.

Some drinks are better than others, and some people need more fluids than others, says Marc I. Leavey, a Baltimore internist.

Should people drink mineral/vitamin waters or Gatorade? And what about energy drinks (i.e., Red Bull, Rockstar): Are they dangerous? What about alcoholic drinks?

For dehydration from exercise and heat, cool water is still the best. In the case of dehydration from body fluid loss, vomiting and diarrhea, an electrolyte solution, or drinks such as Gatorade or Pedialyte, can be helpful when used according to package guidelines. Nonetheless, adults can usually do well with water alone. Taking salt tablets can lead to hypernatremia, or too much salt in the body.

Energy drinks can create problematic circumstances. The caffeine in them stimulates the kidney to produce more urine when exercising, which will further dehydrate you. It may even have a bit of a laxative effect, with further undesirable effects.

With heat and exercise, the pulse rate often rises, and the caffeine in these drinks can push it further, sometimes to dangerous levels.

Anyone who has ever had more than a few alcoholic drinks knows that alcohol promotes more urine production. In the face of heat and dehydration, this can only make a bad situation worse.

What about “water intoxication”? Can you drink too much water?

You certainly can drink too much water, although it is not common in healthy adults. Young children do not have the capacity to absorb water as adults do, with excessive water being given to an infant easily able to overwhelm their system.

During hot weather, particularly with those who are working outside or participating in strenuous sports, one can lose enough electrolytes in perspiration and urine that replacement with only water can lead to hyponatremia â€" too little salt in the body â€" which is a potentially life-threatening condition.

This is one situation where electrolyte drinks can be a useful tool. One who drinks excessive amounts of water without being out in the heat, such as people with psychiatric conditions that compel one to drink large amounts of water (psychogenic polydipsia) can become water-intoxicated to the point of exhibiting a plethora of psychiatric signs.

Should seniors drink more? And what about kids? Is there a difference?

Seniors possess several risk factors that can set them up for problems with the heat. In general, the sense of thirst is reduced in older individuals. As well, normal aging processes, apart from any disease states, result in decreased kidney functions, hindering the body's ability to adapt to extremes of temperature or hydration.

The confusion, dry mouth, slurred speech and altered behavior can easily be attributed just to age, instead of the life-threatening effects of dehydration.

Children share many of the problems of seniors. Their smaller body mass makes minor changes in fluid balance more dangerous. Children don’t always respond to nature’s call to drink, and that produces dehydration without obvious cause. The signs are similar.

Do we lose certain vitamins and minerals due to high temperatures?

Kind of. If you exercise and metabolism is stressed, your need for a variety of vitamins, such as vitamin C, B vitamins and the like, may be somewhat increased. But you don't really lose the vitamins due to temperature. On the other hand, perspiration and urine do contain various salts and chemicals vital to our bodies. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate and many more minerals are all impacted by heat and its effects. Their replacement during extreme conditions may, in fact, be necessary.