How to Keep Your Cool in the Arizona Desert Climate It’s important to be aware of your hydration out here in the virtual oven of our desert climate. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (and I’m betting most of them live here in Arizona!). And speaking of Arizona where we have a lot of retires, did you know that seniors have an increased risk for dehydration? There are many generalized symptoms that occur from being dehydrated, and not knowing what they are could lead to a serious situation that could even put you in the hospital. You owe it to yourself to know the facts about hydration, and how to manage yours properly. WATER and HYDRATION We all know that water is important but... did you know this? • 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. • In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. (Even MILD dehydration will slow your rate of metabolism as much as 3%) • Dehydration is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization for people over 60. • Approximately half of those hospitalized for dehydration die within a year. • One glass of water was shown to shut down midnight hunger pangs for nearly 100% of dieters in a University of Washington study. • Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue and headaches. • Preliminary research indicates that 8‐10 glasses of water per day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. • A mere 2% of body water shortage can trigger fuzzy short‐term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or a printed page. • Drinking 5 glasses of water daily may reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%, the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and bladder cancer by 50%. Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day? A GOOD RULE OF THUMB IS DRINK HALF YOUR BODY WEIGHT IN OUNCES EVERY DAY AT A MINIMUM! For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, drink at least 70 ounces per day. If you are waiting for mother nature to bring monsoon rains, you may have a long wait!
