Why Does Traveling Make You Dehydrated – and How To Avoid It

Traveling And Dehydration: What You Should Know, Plus Top Preventative Strategies

Planning a family trip to Hawaii or perhaps a trip to Paris with your lover can be very exciting. Traveling is a passion for many people, getting to see the world, learn about new cultures, and to experience new things in life. While a trip can be a great way to wind down, relax and get your mind off the things that are causing heaps amounts of stress in your life, there are some aspects of traveling that you should be concerned about in order to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Hydration is a particular topic that many people often tend to overlook. When you are out on the beach during your vacation in Hawaii, you might be sipping down one cocktail after another. Drinking a few liters of water would probably be the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, this might be one of the most terrible mistakes you could make.

Dehydration During Travels – Why It Happens

Packing an expensive face and eye cream for sensitive skin that is equipped with SPF protection, along with the right type of clothes and accessories might be on the top of your to-do list while packing and planning for your trip. This is quite common – you are excited, and you deserve to be. The problem, however, with most people is that they overlook putting “hydration” as a key point on their to-do list. Hydration is an overlooked topic that can often mimic the symptoms associated with several worrisome conditions, including food poising and, of course, the diseases that are widespread in a particular country you are traveling to.

Hydration is one of the most important parts of overall human well-being. Water is the main compound found in the human body, and plays several crucial parts in the body. Optimal daily hydration helps to keep your entire body healthy, including the most important organs in your body, like the brain and the heart. Hydration is also important for muscle function, and fluids are needed to ensure cells throughout the body is able to obtain the nutrients they require to function properly. Additionally, optimal hydration levels can help to prevent constipation and will also ensure harmful bacteria and pathogens can be flushed out of the body.

The fact that traveling keeps a person extremely busy is the most common reason why people get dehydrated when they travel. You have a lot to attend to, and water might be the last thing you wish to focus on at the moment. Many people would also want to enjoy themselves a little; thus they would rather opt for something like an alcoholic beverage than a glass of water.

Identify The Symptoms Of Dehydration

When dehydration occurs, the body can suffer greatly – in more serious cases, death may even be a possible complication of severe dehydration. Dehydration can cause a number of potential problems – including the aggravation of pain symptoms. When dehydration strikes, the best natural home remedies for knee pain, back pain and other pain symptoms would most definitely be to restore hydration levels in your body.

Identifying the signs of dehydration early on can help to avoid the possibility of complications occurring. For this reason, before you set out on your travels, make sure you know more about dehydration. Surprisingly, you are very unlikely to experience thirst as a primary symptom of dehydration – so even if you are not thirsty, you could still be suffering from dehydration.

Common symptoms and potential complications associated with dehydration include a noticeable reduction in urine frequency. When urinating, urine volume will be lower than usual, and urine may also have a dark yellow appearance. You are also likely to experience a headache when you are dehydrated. Many people who suffer from dehydration tend to complain about feeling sleepy, weak and tired as well. The skin will become dry, and you may also experience dry mouth. In addition to these symptoms, it is also important to note that there are many people who tend to become dizzy when they are dehydrated.

Preventing Dehydration During Your Travels

Even though you should always ensure you know what particular symptoms may signal dehydration, a similarly important part of your travel should be to implement the right strategies to prevent dehydration from occurring. Dehydration can be disastrous – you want to give it your best shot to keep your own body and your family hydrated and safe during your travels, even when your schedule seems extremely busy.

The first step to preventing dehydration when traveling to a country where the climate is warmer than from where you are from is to take things slow the first few days. Don’t go rushing off on hiking trials when it feels like you are being cooked by the sun – especially if you are not used to such warm temperatures. Instead, take a day or two to relax at your travel destination to give your body time to adjust toward the changes in humidity. If you suffer from a condition such as arthritis or joint pain, taking a joint health supplement may help to avoid worse symptoms should your hydration levels become low during travels.

During this time where you provide your body an opportunity to take in the new weather conditions you are exposed to, you should ensure you drink a lot of water and other fluids. A simple 500ml bottle of water per day won’t do – you need to drink at least two liters of water every day. Try to aim for around three liters for optimal benefits and to provide adequate hydration to your body. After the first few days, as you start to participate in activities that are going to expose you to high temperatures, be sure to carry water bottles and a lot of fluids with you.

An additional preventative measure would be to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while traveling – especially if the temperature is higher than what you are used to. Alcohol is known to greatly contribute to dehydration – and if you expose your body to the dehydration risks associated with traveling and drink a lot of alcohol, you are doubling your risk. Should you decide to have an alcoholic drink, be sure to drink a tall glass of water before every alcoholic beverage you have.

Taking in plenty of fluids to retain healthy hydration levels in the body is not all that you can do to prevent possible complications during your travels. When you go on a hiking trip, for example, you are prone to sweat. Even if you do drink enough water to keep your body hydrated, your sweat causes you to lose some of the important salts and sugars found in your body – these substances are needed for optimal function of the body. This should also be taken into consideration. If you are planning to go out into warm weather, then carry a sports drink with you that contains electrolytes. Alternatively, you can also opt for an electrolyte-booster pack – these packs are found in many different stores, including local pharmacies, and contain a special mixture that will help to restore lost salts and sugars in your body.

Conclusion

Dehydration is one of the most concerning issues risen when it comes to talking about possible complications of traveling. Traveling causes a busy schedule and often leaves little time to focus on drinking enough water and the right types of fluids to ensure the body gains hydration levels high enough to support overall function. Know the signs of dehydration, and ensure preventative measures are put in place to avoid this complication in the first place.

Author Bio:

Vaileria Dennis is a Health and Beauty Advisor and an independent Researcher of skincare and DIY beauty. She has contributed to various well-known websites, having a good experience in the beauty industry. She also finds her interest in some indoor games. She possesses fabulous communication and interpersonal skills. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Pinterest.