Coping with the heat.
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I have troubles with low potassium and magnesium in heavy sweat environments. I need both to be stable so that medications that I take work correctly. There is a product, in the USA, called Lite Salt that is a mixture of potassium chloride and sodium chloride. I use this only when I am bad shape as these mixtures are tough on the kidneys. I think it is best to get replenishment via normal dietary means.
Electrolyte loss is a killer and in some cases it creeps up on without warning. A few years ago, I walked from the parking lot to Delicate Arch in Arches, National Park, Utah. This is high desert at 4600+ feet and temps were around 100oF. I superhydrated before leaving the car AC by downing 2 liters of water. We walked the 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch, had a great time, spent about an hour at the Arch enjoying the view and taking photos. The walk to the Arch is all uphill. I had one liter of water with me. I drank 500ml at the Arch and 500ml half way back. I made it back to the car and was overwhelmed with early signs of heat stroke. The worst was loss of vision and partial delirium. I downed 2 liters of water in the car but it wasn't until I ate a banana (hard to do because you want to throw up) and drank 1 liter of Gatorade that I became stable. I have had subsequent problems with almost all occurring in desert environments in the American SW or SW Asia, but I now know to not let it get to this point.
Incidentally, Moab, Utah is wonderful for hikes. Two large national parks, decent folks, good hotels. We stay at the Hampton Inn, in Moab if you ever trek over.
Electrolyte loss is a killer and in some cases it creeps up on without warning. A few years ago, I walked from the parking lot to Delicate Arch in Arches, National Park, Utah. This is high desert at 4600+ feet and temps were around 100oF. I superhydrated before leaving the car AC by downing 2 liters of water. We walked the 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch, had a great time, spent about an hour at the Arch enjoying the view and taking photos. The walk to the Arch is all uphill. I had one liter of water with me. I drank 500ml at the Arch and 500ml half way back. I made it back to the car and was overwhelmed with early signs of heat stroke. The worst was loss of vision and partial delirium. I downed 2 liters of water in the car but it wasn't until I ate a banana (hard to do because you want to throw up) and drank 1 liter of Gatorade that I became stable. I have had subsequent problems with almost all occurring in desert environments in the American SW or SW Asia, but I now know to not let it get to this point.
Incidentally, Moab, Utah is wonderful for hikes. Two large national parks, decent folks, good hotels. We stay at the Hampton Inn, in Moab if you ever trek over.
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It might be interesting for folk to read this:
How Much Water Can You Absorb Per Hour?
Find your body’s hydration speed limit. Learn the maximum absorption rate and how to avoid the dangers of drinking too fast.
biologyinsights.com
Yeah, I visited Canyonlands and Arches in Sept 2016. Walked a ways in Arches, but only got to wander around the plateau where the visitors are at Canyonlands. Spectacular scenery. I had planned to camp at a site by the river, but at 10pm they were all full and I ended up sleeping in my car in a rest stop further along the road.
Today is miserable for me. It's far too hot and muggy. I do fine in the cold, but the heat just totally de-energises me.
It's after 7pm and it's just below 23˚C in my garden just now. I know we still have four more hours of useable daylight, but there's no encouragement to go out and be busy in it.
It'll pass, soon enough we'll have rain and be complaining about that too
It's after 7pm and it's just below 23˚C in my garden just now. I know we still have four more hours of useable daylight, but there's no encouragement to go out and be busy in it.
It'll pass, soon enough we'll have rain and be complaining about that too
Electrolyte Rehydration Solution
1 litre of water (2 for children).
6 teaspoons of sugar.
0.5 teaspoon of salt.
0.5 teaspoon of salt substitute (aka potassium chloride).
1 small pinch of baking soda.
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Oh only 23! I would love that! I had 36 in the shade, and couldnt water the garden untill it got to 29 in the shade!, which felt so much cooler. It was over 44 in the sun in my garden.Today is miserable for me. It's far too hot and muggy. I do fine in the cold, but the heat just totally de-energises me.
It's after 7pm and it's just below 23˚C in my garden just now. I know we still have four more hours of useable daylight, but there's no encouragement to go out and be busy in it.
It'll pass, soon enough we'll have rain and be complaining about that too
Ive had two cold showers, my body has been dribbling all day, (yuk!) and that was indoors with a fan on its now down to 27.3 in the house, despite windows and curtains closed all day since 7.30 am. Humidity 72%
Its horrible, no energy, dont want to eat anything, just drinking all day long..
Roll on the weekend , some cooler temps and some rain please.
I loved this sort of weather in my youth, cant deal with it now.
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Mum sent me a picture of the thermometer that she put out in the sun in her paved patio for ten minutes...
In the shade it was probably about 40°C; it's a small paved area with brick wall on three sides so at any given time during daylight there is direct sun on at least one and often two of those walls reflecting back and the wall that is in the shade has been warmed earlier in the day and it's radiating stored heat.
It is much cooler inside the house, generally a comfortable 22°C to 26°C when outside is supposedly 34°C and up; Edwardian brick mid-terrace.
In the shade it was probably about 40°C; it's a small paved area with brick wall on three sides so at any given time during daylight there is direct sun on at least one and often two of those walls reflecting back and the wall that is in the shade has been warmed earlier in the day and it's radiating stored heat.
It is much cooler inside the house, generally a comfortable 22°C to 26°C when outside is supposedly 34°C and up; Edwardian brick mid-terrace.
If I buy electrolyte soluble powder or tablets I always look for some Mg content. Cramp is a problem for me.
Currently lying on a fresh cotton sheet with a damp t-shirt draped over me and the fan blowing. Dog, ditto.
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