Staying well hydrated can be surprisingly difficult during the winter months, but health experts say it’s just as important, if not more so, than in the summer, Euronews reports.
Yadira Santiago Banuelos, a clinical assistant and nurse practitioner, says hydration plays a key role in everything from skin health to immunity when temperatures drop.
“When we’re well hydrated on the inside, we’re better hydrated on the outside, which helps with dry skin,” says Banuelos.
Winter dehydration
Banuelos says people often underestimate the risk of dehydration during the colder months.
“Usually, we don’t associate those months as much with dehydration,” she says. “So we don’t actively think about drinking enough water during these months. At the same time, our body’s thirst response is dampened. Our thirst receptors actually decrease by about 40 percent,” Banuelos explains, meaning people may already be dehydrated by the time they feel thirsty.
Dry air strips moisture from the skin, people urinate more often in the winter, and sweating still happens—albeit less noticeably.
“We still sweat, but we often don’t notice it as much,” she says.
What are the health risks of dehydration?
According to Banuelos, dehydration can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on how severe it is, including dizziness, dry skin, chapped lips, feeling weak and blurry vision, and fatigue. Long-term dehydration can be much more serious. “It can definitely increase more serious side effects, including kidney problems, such as an increased risk of kidney stones.”
How much water do you really need?
The common advice to drink eight glasses of water a day may not be enough for everyone.
“Men generally need about 13 glasses (about 3 liters) of water a day,” says Banuelos. “And women need about nine glasses (about 2 liters) of water a day, on average.”
Needs can increase during pregnancy or breastfeeding, when women may need similar intake levels as men.
