Heat Waves Demand More Than Just Water For Proper Hydration; Electrolytes Intake Necessary: Experts

MUMBAI : When temperatures soar and heat waves become more intense, drinking water alone may not be sufficient to keep the body properly hydrated, particularly as excessive sweating leads to the loss of essential electrolytes, caution health experts.
Loss of water and important minerals from the body due to heat may lead to complications like dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, fatigue, they said.
In the summer season, the body loses not only water but also electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium due to excessive sweating and electrolytes play an important role in ensuring proper functioning of muscles and nerves as well as regulation of fluid levels in the body, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital Additional Director of Internal Medicine Dr Divya Gopal said.

“However, when water is taken without electrolytes following excessive sweating, dilution of electrolytes in the body might result in problems like fatigue, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness and thirst,” she said.
Therefore, she said, water intake alone may not be enough to maintain proper hydration in the body during excessive heat or sweating. “In addition to water, electrolyte intake may also be necessary using various methods including oral rehydration solutions (ORS), lemon water with a little salt, coconut water, buttermilk, and well-balanced meals,” added Dr Gopal. Saifee Hospital Head of Emergency Medical Services Dr Murtaza S Bagwala said that during extreme hot weather, dehydration can happen and doesn’t just mean feeling thirsty.

“When you sweat too much, you lose a lot of water and important minerals, such as sodium and potassium. If this is not taken care of, it can be harmful for several organs. One of the most common complications seen is severe weakness, dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, fatigue, low energy levels and difficulty concentrating,” he stated.
Dehydration can cause low blood pressure and a fast heartbeat, and may even cause fainting as it gets worse, said Dr Bagwala.
He said that dehydration can be much more serious among vulnerable people, like the elderly, children or people with diabetes, heart disease or kidney disorders.
“It can cause confusion, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and exacerbation of existing health problems. Electrolyte imbalance can also cause irregular heart rhythms, sometimes causing palpitations,” he added.

L H Hiranandani Hospital MD Associate Director, Internal Medicine and Metabolic Physician Dr Vimal Pahuja, further noted that personal health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart conditions might aggravate dehydration levels during summers.

Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems, along with their medications, can severely affect the body’s fluid balance, he said. “The consequences of this drastic loss of body fluids clinically are disastrous. The reduction in the volume of blood flowing through the body results in profound hypovolemia. For a patient suffering from hypertension and heart disease, this can cause drastic changes, such as orthostatic hypotension, leading to dizziness, syncope and even falls,” he said.
Moreover, inadequate supply of blood to essential organs may result in acute kidney injury. For patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors, this situation of extreme dehydration may cause euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, which is characterized by dangerously high levels of acidity in the bloodstream despite normal sugar levels, cautioned Dr Pahuja. (Agencies)