MERIDEN – Medical professionals suggest staying hydrated year round, but in the summer months, drinking water is particularly important. Dr. Irfan Chughtai, chief of nephrology at Midstate Medical Center, said the human body is about 55% to 60% water. Therefore, a lot of the body functions and mechanisms depend “heavily” on water. He explained that during the summer, because individuals sweat more, water intake is particularly important. Healthy, young individuals have mechanisms that help them tolerate dehydration, Chughtai said. However, it is particularly important that people who start having issues with their kidneys, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease stay hydrated. Chughtai recommends drinking plain water but added that flavored water and other liquids, like coffee, do count towards the process of hydration. When it comes to how much water to drink, Chughtai said there is not a “one size fits all” rule. He explained that those who have a larger output of liquid through things like sweating, fever and diarrhea, must drink more water to compensate for the loss. Age, thirst and level of physical activity all play a role in how much water a person should drink, Chughtai said. An average amount is between 60 and 80 ounces a day, he added. “Dehydration has its consequences,” Chughtai said. Some of the long term effects are kidney failure, kidney stones and a decrease in blood pressure, causing dizziness. Chughtai said it is important to remind children and senior citizens to drink water. Having access to water, especially when spending time outside or doing physical activity is important. How does the body process liquids? The late Frank Suarez, who did research in metabolism, wrote the book “The Power of Metabolism.” It suggests that drinking water is not the same as drinking other liquids. The book mentions that the body sends plain water to the bloodstream, therefore, it increases oxygen in cells and hydration. Liquids with flavor are processed as a meal and the body sends them through the digestive tract, according to the book. Carbonated beverages include phosphoric acid, which reduces oxygen, Suarez said. He mentioned that plain water is 89% oxygen and suggests dividing body weight by 16 to obtain the result of the number of eight ounce cups of water an individual should consume per day. For example, someone with 160 pounds should drink 10 (eight-ounce) cups of water a day. Hydrating tips from an outdoor worker Meriden resident Juan Lopez, owner of Year-Round Mechanical, installs and maintains HVAC units throughout the year. Although Lopez has  the opportunity to go indoors to perform certain parts of his job, he works mostly outside. To prevent overheating, sunburn and dehydration, Lopez wears protective equipment, including a hat, arm sleeves and a neck cover, which he soaks in cold water throughout the day. Lopez said he lowers his caffeine intake during the summer because he feels it dehydrates him. In the morning, when he is getting ready for work, Lopez alternates between sips of coffee and water.  Lopez carries a cooler with ice packs and water bottles every day, he said. He also keeps granola bars and Gatorade close by during his work day. Lopez drinks 10 to 16 bottles of water daily, he said. Lopez said that he knows he is starting to get dehydrated when he becomes light headed. In order to feel better, he drinks some water, along with Gatorade and a bite of a granola bar. He also parks his truck in a shady area and runs the air conditioner to cool down.  Keeping an eye on the weather and humidity is something that helps him better prepare. ksantos@record-journal.com203-317-2364Twitter: @KarlaSantosNews

MERIDEN – Medical professionals suggest staying hydrated year round, but in the summer months, drinking water is particularly important.

Dr. Irfan Chughtai, chief of nephrology at Midstate Medical Center, said the human body is about 55% to 60% water. Therefore, a lot of the body functions and mechanisms depend “heavily” on water. He explained that during the summer, because individuals sweat more, water intake is particularly important. Healthy, young individuals have mechanisms that help them tolerate dehydration, Chughtai said. However, it is particularly important that people who start having issues with their kidneys, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease stay hydrated.

Chughtai recommends drinking plain water but added that flavored water and other liquids, like coffee, do count towards the process of hydration.

When it comes to how much water to drink, Chughtai said there is not a “one size fits all” rule. He explained that those who have a larger output of liquid through things like sweating, fever and diarrhea, must drink more water to compensate for the loss. Age, thirst and level of physical activity all play a role in how much water a person should drink, Chughtai said. An average amount is between 60 and 80 ounces a day, he added.

“Dehydration has its consequences,” Chughtai said. Some of the long term effects are kidney failure, kidney stones and a decrease in blood pressure, causing dizziness.

Chughtai said it is important to remind children and senior citizens to drink water. Having access to water, especially when spending time outside or doing physical activity is important.

How does the body process liquids?

The late Frank Suarez, who did research in metabolism, wrote the book “The Power of Metabolism.” It suggests that drinking water is not the same as drinking other liquids.

The book mentions that the body sends plain water to the bloodstream, therefore, it increases oxygen in cells and hydration. Liquids with flavor are processed as a meal and the body sends them through the digestive tract, according to the book.

Carbonated beverages include phosphoric acid, which reduces oxygen, Suarez said. He mentioned that plain water is 89% oxygen and suggests dividing body weight by 16 to obtain the result of the number of eight ounce cups of water an individual should consume per day. For example, someone with 160 pounds should drink 10 (eight-ounce) cups of water a day.

Hydrating tips from an outdoor worker

Meriden resident Juan Lopez, owner of Year-Round Mechanical, installs and maintains HVAC units throughout the year. Although Lopez has  the opportunity to go indoors to perform certain parts of his job, he works mostly outside.

To prevent overheating, sunburn and dehydration, Lopez wears protective equipment, including a hat, arm sleeves and a neck cover, which he soaks in cold water throughout the day.

Lopez said he lowers his caffeine intake during the summer because he feels it dehydrates him. In the morning, when he is getting ready for work, Lopez alternates between sips of coffee and water. 

Lopez carries a cooler with ice packs and water bottles every day, he said. He also keeps granola bars and Gatorade close by during his work day. Lopez drinks 10 to 16 bottles of water daily, he said.

Lopez said that he knows he is starting to get dehydrated when he becomes light headed. In order to feel better, he drinks some water, along with Gatorade and a bite of a granola bar. He also parks his truck in a shady area and runs the air conditioner to cool down. 

Keeping an eye on the weather and humidity is something that helps him better prepare.

ksantos@record-journal.com203-317-2364Twitter: @KarlaSantosNews

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