Pilbara Health

You may be sick of hearing this by now but even though we are looking down the barrel of some long awaited cooler weather, you still have to be mindful of your hydration levels. This is particularly important to those of us who enjoy a beer or two on the weekend during R&R.

Alcohol is a part of society so making sure you are fully aware of the risks to your wellbeing is yet another string to your healthy lifestyle bow.

Even though it is more beneficial to limit alcohol intake altogether, it is important to remember some simple facts about alcohol and dehydration.

So what happens to your body when you drink too much?

• Alcohol is a diuretic, which makes you visit the bathroom more often. You lose far more water in your urine than the drink will replace and therefore become dehydrated and feel really thirsty the next morning as a result.
• To compensate, your body will actually take water from your brain causing it to decrease in size and pull on the membranes that connect the brain to the skull. Subsequent painful headaches are experienced!
• Frequent urination also expels salts and electrolytes, such as magnesium and potassium that are necessary for nerve and muscle functions, resulting in fatigue and nausea.

Remember, once you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. If you are going to have a drink or two, keep up your water intake.