How much water should I drink in hot weather?
Let's face it: not many of us drink enough water. We've all experienced feeling faint and dehydrated after opting for fizzy drinks or sugary teas instead.
Staying hydrated is essential for your body to function properly, especially in the UK's summer heatwave, as the rising temperatures mean we're more likely to feel groggy. It's also important to drink plenty of water in the winter months, when cold and flu symptoms are more common.
Water can help to clear out toxins, clear up skin and boost energy levels, according to studies. But how much do you actually need to drink to feel the benefits? Here's what the experts say.
The NHS recommends drinking six to eight glasses of fluid per day – or about 1.2 litres – to stay hydrated on an average day. As well as water, this includes:
Sugar-free tea and coffee
Lower-fat milk
Fruit juice and smoothies (no more than 150ml a day)
On a warm day, however, you'll need to drink more water to replace the liquid you'll lose through sweat. Dehydration is one of the biggest health issues caused by a heatwave, as well as overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstrokes.
Every person's body is different, so the exact amount you need may depend on factors such as your health, age, size and weight.
It's equally important to stay hydrated during winter, as water can help boost your immune system during flu and cold season, helping you to fight off these viruses, and also give you a much-needed energy boost if you're feeling run-down.
It seems like a lot to drink in a day, but a slight change in diet can reduce the amount you need to consume. Try eating foods with a high water content, such as watermelon, cucumber and courgette, to contribute to your fluid intake.
Cut back on salty foods such as bacon and cheese, as they will cause your body to use up fluids to dilute the sodium consumed.
It's possible – but rare – to over-hydrate if you drink too much water in a short period of time. This can lead to a condition called hyponatremia – sometimes known as 'water intoxication' – if your blood's sodium content becomes diluted.
The symptoms include disorientation, nausea and vomiting, and cases are most common among endurance athletes.
As a rule of thumb, you should only drink water when you are thirsty, and not drink so much that you feel bloated or put on weight.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
British woman dies from rabies after puppy scratch
A British woman has died from rabies after she was "scratched" by a puppy in Morocco, her family said. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, had light contact with the stray dog while on holiday in February in the North African country. In a social media post, reported by the Press Association, Mrs Ford's family said she developed a headache two weeks ago and later couldn't "walk, talk, sleep, swallow". The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there was no risk to the wider public due to no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. Mrs Ford was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK, the hospital trust confirmed, and was later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. She died on 11 June, with an inquest into her death opened in Sheffield earlier. In the Facebook post, her daughter Robyn Thomson said the family "is still processing this unimaginable loss". "She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February," she wrote. "At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it. She continued: "Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing." Close contacts of Mrs Ford and health workers were being assessed and offered vaccinations when necessary as a precaution, a UKHSA spokesperson added. Rabies is a virus that causes an infection of the brain and nervous system in humans Symptoms of rabies usually take three to 12 weeks to appear - but they can appear after a few days or not for several months or years Symptoms include numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched, hallucinations, feeling very anxious or energetic, difficulty swallowing or breathing and paralysis It is nearly always fatal when symptoms appear, but post-exposure treatment is "very effective" at preventing disease if given promptly after exposure to the virus The NHS website also advises people to seek medical help immediately if they have been bitten or scratched, or if they have been licked on the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound by an animal abroad Source: World Health Organization/NHS/UKHSA Ms Thomson added: "We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love. "Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you." Six cases of human rabies connected to animal exposure abroad were reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024. Rabies is particularly common in Asia and Africa, the UKHSA said, with people visiting affected countries advised to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever they can. The agency also advised people to seek advice about the need for a rabies vaccine before travel. Jane McNicholas, chief medical officer at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We can confirm that we provided specialist care for a patient who had contracted rabies whilst abroad and who has now sadly died. "Our thoughts are with the family at this devastating time and out of respect for their privacy we will not be providing any further information." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. NHS
Health Line
44 minutes ago
- Health Line
Understanding the Different Types of Psoriasis
Key takeaways Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin condition. It causes skin cells to build up rapidly, leading to itchy and painful, scaly patches. Psoriasis may also affect joints and other organ systems. Symptoms vary depending on skin tone and the type of psoriasis; patches may appear red on light skin, salmon-colored on medium skin, and violet or brown on darker skin. Joint pain and swelling may occur in certain types of psoriasis. While there is no cure, treatments like topical creams, light therapy, and oral medications can help relieve and manage symptoms, with the approach varying based on the type and severity of psoriasis. Psoriasis typically affects the skin, causing skin cells to build up faster than usual. It causes your skin to develop scaly patches that can be itchy and painful. It can also affect other organ systems, especially the joints. Psoriasis tends to appear pink or red on people with light or fair skin tones, with silvery-white scales. On medium skin tones, it can appear salmon-colored with silvery-white scales. On darker skin tones, psoriasis can look violet, brown, or reddish brown, often with light-colored or grayish-colored plaques. There's limited research and information about managing and diagnosing psoriasis in people of color. A 2014 study found the prevalence of psoriasis among all adults ages 20 and older to be 3.2%, with the rates varying by race and ethnicity: White: 3.6% Black/African American: 1.9% Hispanic: 1.6% These numbers may not tell the entire story, as people of color may be disproportionately undertreated and misdiagnosed. This is because psoriasis isn't always recognized on skin of color. What are the symptoms of psoriasis? The most common symptoms of psoriasis include: skin patches and scales that vary in color based on skin tone: red skin patches on light skin tones salmon-colored and silvery-white on medium skin tones violet, dark brown, or gray on darker skin tones scaly skin itchy skin joint swelling, stiffness, or pain, which are associated with psoriatic arthritis The symptoms of psoriasis also vary based on the type of psoriasis you have. There are eight types of psoriasis: plaque guttate inverse pustular erythrodermic psoriatic arthritis nail scalp Psoriasis isn't contagious, regardless of type. Psoriasis can also lead to mental stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Depression is also common in people who have psoriasis. Other diseases have also been linked with psoriasis, such as: Crohn's disease celiac disease metabolic syndrome cardiovascular disease There are also subcategories of psoriasis types. These appear differently depending on the location of the body. Psoriasis patches on darker skin tones may also be more widespread, which can make it difficult to diagnose. Plaque psoriasis Plaque psoriasis, or psoriasis vulgaris, is the most common form of psoriasis. An estimated 80–90% of people diagnosed with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis. This type is characterized by thick red or purplish patches of skin, often with silvery-white or gray scales. These patches often appear on your elbows, knees, lower back, or scalp. Patches are usually 1 to 10 centimeters wide but can also be larger and cover more of your body. If you scratch at the scales, the symptoms will often get worse. Treatments As a way to ease discomfort, a doctor may recommend applying moisturizers to keep the skin from becoming too dry or irritated. These moisturizers include over-the-counter (OTC) cortisone creams or an ointment-based moisturizer. A doctor may also work to identify your unique psoriasis triggers, including stress or lack of sleep. Other treatments may include: vitamin D creams, such as calcipotriene (Dovonex) and calcitriol (Rocaltrol), to reduce the rate at which skin cells grow, in combination with topical steroids to reduce inflammation and itching topical retinoids, like tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage), to help reduce inflammation immunosuppressives, such as methotrexate or cyclosporine applications of coal tar, either by cream, oil, or shampoo biologics, a category of anti-inflammatory drugs Medications may differ for guttate or erythrodermic psoriasis. In some cases, you may need light therapy. This involves exposing the skin to both UVA and UVB rays. Sometimes, treatments combine prescription oral medications, light therapies, and prescription ointments to reduce inflammation. With moderate to severe cases, you may be prescribed systemic medication in the form of oral, injectable, or intravenous (IV) medication. Guttate psoriasis Guttate psoriasis appears in small red spots on lighter skin tones. In darker skin tones, these spots may appear violet or brown. Guttate is the second most common psoriasis type, affecting around 8% of people with psoriasis. Most of the time, it starts during childhood or young adulthood. The spots are small, separate, and drop-shaped. They often appear on the torso and limbs, but they can also appear on your face and scalp. Spots are usually not as thick as plaque psoriasis, but they can develop into plaque psoriasis over time. Guttate psoriasis usually begins after certain triggers. Triggers may include: strep throat stress skin injury infection medication Treatments To treat guttate psoriasis, a doctor may prescribe steroid creams, light therapy, and oral medications. Determining the underlying cause of the infection can also help clear guttate psoriasis. If a bacterial infection is the cause, antibiotics may help. Flexural or inverse psoriasis Flexural or inverse psoriasis often appears in skinfolds, such as under the breasts, in the armpits, or around the groin. This type of psoriasis appears red or purple and is often shiny and smooth. The sweat and moisture from skinfolds keep this form of psoriasis from shedding skin scales. Sometimes, it's misdiagnosed as a fungal or bacterial infection. The skin-on-skin contact can make inverse psoriasis very uncomfortable. Most people with inverse psoriasis also have a different form of psoriasis in other places on their body. Treatments The treatments for inverse psoriasis are similar to plaque psoriasis treatments. They can include: topical steroid creams nonsteroidal drugs such as phosphodiesterase (PDE)-4 inhibitor light therapy oral medications biologics, which are available via injection or IV infusion A doctor may prescribe a lower-potency steroid cream to prevent your skin from thinning too much. You may also benefit from taking or applying medications that reduce yeast or bacteria growth. Pustular psoriasis Pustular psoriasis may be severe at times. This form of psoriasis may develop quickly in the form of many white pustules surrounded by red or darkened skin. Pustular psoriasis may affect isolated areas of your body, like your hands and feet, or cover most of the skin's surface. These pustules can also join together and form scaling. However, if it affects all areas of the body — such as the Von Zumbusch subtype — it can be life threatening because it has severe systemic effects. Some people experience cyclic periods of pustules and remission. While the pus is not infectious, this condition can cause flu-like symptoms such as: fever chills rapid pulse muscle weakness loss of appetite There are three kinds of pustular psoriasis: von Zumbusch palmoplantar pustulosis acropustulosis Each of the three forms of pustular psoriasis may have different symptoms and severity. Treatments Treatment may include OTC or prescription corticosteroid creams, oral medications, or light therapy. Biologics may also be recommended. Identifying and treating the underlying cause may also help reduce reoccurrence of pustular psoriasis. Erythrodermic psoriasis Erythrodermic psoriasis, or exfoliative psoriasis, is a rare type of psoriasis that looks bright red on lighter skin tones or dark purplish in people with darker skin tones. It also involves shedding of the skin. This condition is a medical emergency. You may need to be hospitalized, as your body may not be able to manage your body temperature. This form of psoriasis is widespread, with red or purple skin and silvery scales. It may cover large portions of your body. Exfoliation often occurs in larger pieces than the small scales typical to most psoriasis. Erythrodermic psoriasis can develop from: pustular psoriasis widespread, poorly controlled plaque psoriasis a bad sunburn infection alcohol use disorder significant stress abrupt discontinuation of a systemic psoriasis medication using oral steroids, cyclosporin, or methotrexate Treatments Almost all cases of erythrodermic psoriasis will need to be treated at a hospital. There, you'll receive a combination of therapies, which may include: an application of medicated wet dressings topical steroid applications biologics prescription oral medications Psoriatic arthritis Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a painful and physically limiting condition that affects between 30% and 33% of people with psoriasis. There are five subtypes of PsA with varying symptoms. There's currently no cure for this condition. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, so it can trigger your body to attack your joints and skin. It can affect many joints and often becomes quite severe in the hands, affecting the nails. Skin symptoms usually appear before joint symptoms. Treatments Treatments for psoriatic arthritis may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). NSAIDs can help reduce the incidences of swelling and pain associated with psoriatic arthritis. Prescription medications, such as an oral corticosteroid, may also help reduce inflammation that leads to psoriatic arthritis. Prescription topical medications used to treat PsA include: salicylic acid calcipotriene tazarotene A unique category of medications known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can help reduce inflammation and joint damage. Biologics, which are a subcategory of DMARDs, may be prescribed to reduce inflammation at a cellular level. Nail psoriasis Although not an official 'type' of psoriasis, nail psoriasis is a common manifestation of psoriasis. It can often be confused with fungal infections and other infections of the nail. Nail psoriasis can cause: nail pitting grooves discoloration loosening or crumbling of your nail thickened skin under your nail colored patches or spots under your nail Sometimes, the nail can even crumble and fall off. There's currently no cure for psoriatic nails, but some treatments may improve their health and appearance. Treatments Treatments for nail psoriasis are like the ones used for plaque psoriasis, but it may take time to see the effects of these treatments as nails grow very slowly. Treatment options include: Scalp psoriasis Scalp psoriasis is another manifestation that's common in people with plaque psoriasis. For some people, it may cause severe dandruff. For others, it can be painful, itchy, and very noticeable at the hairline. Scalp psoriasis can extend to your neck, face, and ears in one large patch or many smaller patches. In some cases, scalp psoriasis can complicate regular hair hygiene. Excessive scratching can cause hair loss and scalp infections. The condition may also cause feelings of social stress. Treatments Topical treatments are most commonly used for scalp psoriasis. They may require an initial 2 months of intensive applications plus permanent, regular maintenance. Treatment options include: medicated shampoos tar preparations topical applications of vitamin D, known as calcipotriene (Dovonex) Light therapy, oral medications, and biologics may also be recommended depending on the responsiveness to treatment. Self-care for psoriasis There's no one cure for any form of psoriasis, but remission and significant healing are possible. Your healthcare team can work with you to create a treatment plan that helps manage your condition. You can also take steps at home to manage psoriasis. Home management includes: practicing relaxation techniques to reduce stress moisturizing dry skin quitting smoking avoiding products that irritate your skin wearing comfortable clothing that doesn't rub the psoriasis eating a nutritious diet Doctors may slowly build up to the most effective treatment plan for your psoriasis symptoms. Most start with a topical or light therapy treatment and only progress to systemic medications if the first line of treatment is unsuccessful. Coping and support Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions can commonly occur in people with psoriasis. You may benefit from therapy or support groups where you can meet other people experiencing similar issues or concerns. You can also talk with a healthcare professional about seeing a therapist who has experience with psoriasis. They will be able to help identify ways to cope that will work for you. Visit the National Psoriasis Foundation for the latest information on research, events, and programs. Takeaway There are different types of psoriasis that present with different symptoms. While there's currently no cure for psoriasis, treatments can help relieve and manage your symptoms. The type of psoriasis you have and its severity will determine your treatment. Generally speaking, milder cases with smaller psoriasis patches can often be treated topically. More serious cases, with larger patches, may require systemic treatment. Many people believe that psoriasis is contagious, but it will not spread from person to person. A combination of genetics, the environment, and immune system factors are believed to cause psoriasis. Thanks to the advocacy work of dozens of psoriasis activists and organizations, psoriasis is gaining more support and awareness. Talk with a doctor if you believe you have psoriasis. They can provide treatment options and coping methods.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Glasgow study reveals 'significant role' of genetics in Alzheimer's disease
A new study has revealed that genetics may play a more significant role in the development of Alzheimer's disease than previously thought. The research, led by the University of Glasgow, published in the journal npj Dementia, found that while better memory, reasoning, and reaction times were linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease up to 15 years later, this protective effect was significantly reduced in people with a higher genetic risk. Researchers focused on the APOE e4 genotype, which is present in roughly one in four people and is the strongest known genetic predictor of late-onset Alzheimer's. Read more: Glasgow drugs trial to use genetics to 'personalise' treatments A single copy of the APOE e4 gene increases Alzheimer's risk threefold, while two copies raise the risk by twelvefold. Dr Donald Lyall, senior lecturer in population brain health at the University of Glasgow's School of Health and Wellbeing, said: "Our study adds to the knowledge gap that exists on the relationship between genetic factors, cognitive health generally, and subsequent risk of dementia in later life. "Our findings suggest that genetics plays a more significant role than previously thought and may influence the risk or protection conferred by other factors like premorbid cognitive health." In the study, people with above-average reasoning ability were found to have a 36% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's within 15 years. However, for those who also carried the APOE e4 gene, the risk reduction dropped to just 21%. More strikingly, individuals with high reasoning skills but who carried the APOE e4 genotype were more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those with below-average reasoning but no genetic risk factor. The researchers analysed data from over 252,000 UK Biobank participants aged 55 and older, with the average age at the start of the study being just over 62. To ensure long-term accuracy, individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's within two years of testing were excluded. Researchers excluded individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's within two years of cognitive testing. The study reinforces the challenges in identifying effective therapies for Alzheimer's, particularly given the influence of genetic factors. Read more: Public urged to shape health board's anti-racism strategy - how you can help Dr Lyall said: "Our study has important implications regarding dementia; namely that genetics clearly plays a significant role in influencing someone's overall risk of Alzheimer's disease as they age." The findings underscore the complex interplay between cognitive health and genetics and the challenges in developing therapies that can effectively prevent or treat Alzheimer's. While cognitive resilience still matters, the research highlights the urgent need to understand genetic risk factors in the fight against one of the world's most devastating neurodegenerative conditions.
