How to stay hydrated this 4th of July
MADISON (WKOW) — Doctors are warning people to pay close attention to hydration this 4th of July weekend as temperatures climb into the 80s.
Jeff Pothof, an emergency medicine physician at UW-Health, said mixing alcohol with heat is a dangerous cocktail.
“A good plan is not to think that you’re going to hydrate yourself with a 30 pack of Busch Lite, that just ain’t going to do it,” Pothof said. “You got to have other things in there too when you’re trying to stay hydrated during the warm holiday.”
Pothof recommends averaging one water bottle an hour, or 16 ounces, to stay hydrated. Symptoms of dehydration include lightheadedness and cramping.
Erin Honig, a physician with GHC Wisconsin, said it’s possible to overhydrate. If you’re using the bathroom multiple times within a few hours, she believes that’s a sign to slow down.
“If you don’t listen to that and stop drinking excessive water, the next steps would be sort of feeling kind of confused, sometimes palpitations or muscle cramps,” Honig said.