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Dehydration

jennydog profile image
14 Replies

I have just followed an American link on Facebook and as I haven't the skill to copy to you I will have to tell you what was written.

To prevent dehydration you need to work out your optimum fluid intake per day.

Take your weight in lbs. Divide by 2. Drink that number of ozs in fluid per day. There are 20fl ozs of water per pint. That's an awful lot of liquid for me!!

There is also emphasis about how energy drinks are likely to trigger arrhythmia due to the caffeine content.

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jennydog profile image
jennydog
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14 Replies
Japaholic profile image
Japaholic

I do drink a lot of fluids, but that's because it's damn hot here and humid too. I can tell if I'm getting dehydrated by the colour of my urine and a weird headache. I usually have a rehydration drink if that happens.

jennydog profile image
jennydog in reply to Japaholic

I think that a lot of people, like me, often limit their intake to reduce the number of times they will need a toilet. There are less and less public toilets in the UK now.

Mrspat profile image
Mrspat in reply to jennydog

I can relate to this!

Jason1971 profile image
Jason1971

I think dehydration is a factor for me. I drink at least 3 litres of water a day, which at my current weight is just over the required amount. I sometimes have to be careful, as cold water has triggered attacks before. You can't win sometimes :)

GolfMyrtleBeach profile image
GolfMyrtleBeach in reply to Jason1971

It's tap water for me- cold liquid is definitely one of my triggers.

Langara profile image
Langara

That is a fraction over 3.5 pints for me, so works out about a large mug of decaffeinated coffee every couple of waking hours. I can manage that.

jennydog profile image
jennydog

Langara, that made me laugh. I would not like to tell you how much water I would have to drink. Waterlogged just about describes it!

in reply to jennydog

Ditto!

GivEmkeL profile image
GivEmkeL

I have found that staying hydrated is key to helping reduce the number of AF events that I get. Although it is not the only trigger of my AF episodes, I find it very helpful to stay hydrated with water. I do not drink any beverages with caffeine as caffeine can cause dehydration for me. I'm in the U.S. and live in the desert southwest (Arizona). Your average person who lives here is slightly dehydrated because of our extremely dry climate. - KeL

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Whilst it is an interesting exercise all you really need to do is make sure your wee looks like dry whit wine and not Lucozade . Jennydog since my operation I am more than aware of what you say about public loos but being a man often have to resort to the old carter;s trick.

Bob

in reply to BobD

I agree this is the best advice I have seen amongst anything from 8 litres/day to a glass a day. Interestingly, I did read somewhere that when you get older (maybe in your 60's) you forget your thirsty and therefore can more easily get dehydrated.

jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln

I'm always dehydrated. I find it very difficult to drink large amounts of fluid and this is lifelong. Ever since my grandma kept saying "you don't drink enough" right up until getting Renal colic (kidney stones) 7 years ago and last year.......

I always wake up thirsty, sometimes In the middle of the night. And I do notice a difference from the usual tiredness, which is usually solved by drinking a couple of pints of fluid!

jennydog profile image
jennydog

I do think that fluid intake needs looking at in hospital. I suppose that the more frequent use of bedpans would be something of a disincentive !

Mrspat profile image
Mrspat

I wonder how many people in this group have to take a diuretic for other medical conditions, or have kidney problems? Asks ever, one size doesn't fit all.

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