During a heat wave, it is crucial to stay hydrated. A few signals can alert you if you are short of water. Explanations.
- Thirteen departments are placed on orange vigilance during the heat wave.
- When it is very hot, the body eliminates daily up to 2.5 liters through perspiration, urine and breathing.
Dark and less frequent urine, headaches, constipation, very red and very dry tongue… in the event of dehydration, our body speaks to us and the feeling of thirst is not the only clue to take into account.
2 to 3 liters per day
Small reminder: for optimal hydration, an adult should drink at least 8 glasses of 200 ml of water per day, or about 1.5 liters. In the event of a heat wave, you should increase your water consumption to 2 to 3 liters per day. And this, without waiting to feel thirsty.
A good test of whether you are sufficiently hydrated is to pinch your skin between your thumb and forefinger.“If the skin immediately snaps back into place, everything is fine. If she keeps the mark and takes a few seconds to return to normal, this is a sign of dehydration.” indicates Dr. Renaud Ferrier.
Another manifestation that we often ignore: the state of the tongue! When it is very red and very dry, do not hesitate to hydrate more.
On the other hand, urine dark and in small quantities must also alert as well as headaches, dizziness, or even malaise.
Thermoregulation
As explained by Ministry of Health and Preventionexposed to heat, the human body activates thermoregulation mechanisms that allow it to compensate for the increase in temperature (sweating, increased blood flow in the skin by dilation of the skin vessels).
The vasodilation of the vessels makes it possible to evacuate the heat towards the surface of the body. Sweat cools the surface of the skin.
In the event of high temperatures, the thermoregulation mechanisms work less well and heat-related pathologies appear as in the case of dehydration.
Nausea, vomiting…
The most serious risk is heatstroke, which is the main emergency linked to extreme heat: the body can no longer control the temperature, which rises quickly, exceeding 39°C. The symptoms are violent headaches, nausea, vomiting, incoherent speech, convulsions, even loss of consciousness and death.
Thus, a simple gesture like drinking water regularly could save you from health problems in case of high heat.