Staying adequately hydrated during winter can be surprisingly challenging, but health experts emphasize its importance, even more so than in summer, according to Euronews.
Yadira Santiago Banuelos, a clinical assistant and nurse practitioner, highlights that hydration is crucial for aspects like skin health and immunity when temperatures fall.
“When well-hydrated internally, our skin is better moisturized externally, aiding in combating dry skin,” Banuelos notes.
Winter Dehydration
Banuelos points out that people often underestimate dehydration risks during colder months.
“We don’t usually link these months with dehydration,” she states. “Hence, we don’t consciously focus on drinking enough water. Simultaneously, our body’s thirst response decreases, with thirst receptors reducing by about 40%,” Banuelos explains, meaning dehydration may occur before thirst is felt.
The dry air removes moisture from the skin, urination frequency increases, and sweating continues, albeit less noticeably.
“We still sweat, but it often goes unnoticed,” she adds.
Health Risks of Dehydration
Banuelos indicates that dehydration can lead to various symptoms based on its severity, including dizziness, dry skin, chapped lips, weakness, blurry vision, and fatigue. Prolonged dehydration can be more severe, increasing risks like kidney stones.
Required Water Intake
The usual advice of eight glasses a day may not suffice for everyone.
“Men generally require about 13 glasses (around 3 liters) daily,” Banuelos states. “Women need about nine glasses (approximately 2 liters) per day on average.”
These needs can rise during pregnancy or breastfeeding, when women may need water intake similar to men.
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