
Health expert explains why you may be having less sex this week
Data commissioned by Lovehoney, in partnership with electrolyte hydration brand SULT found that over two in five Brits are drinking less than the recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day, with 8% consuming less than a single glass.
The data found that those that were drinking more than the recommended daily intake of water are having better sex; 22% of these rated the quality of their sex life as ten out of ten, compared to 13% of those drinking less than the recommended daily amount. On average, those that are sufficiently hydrated rated the quality of their sex life as 6.8/10, compared to 5.95/10 for those that don't drink enough water.
Similarly, those that drink the recommended daily water intake have a higher sex drive than those that don't, with 66% reporting a high libido (ranking 7 out of ten or above), compared to 52% of those nor drinking enough.
38% of Brits say that being dehydrated makes them less in the mood for sex, with 61% attributing this to a lack of energy, and 38% due to dry mouth.
What's more, a quarter of people surveyed have experienced muscle cramps (often caused by a lack of electrolytes) during sex. Sarah Mulindwa said: 'Hydration and libido are more connected than most people realise. Staying hydrated supports good blood flow along with your hormone regulations and energy levels, all of which are essential for sexual arousal and performance. Think of water as your body's natural fuel - when you're running low, so is your sex drive. This research shows dehydration is one of the UK's most overlooked bedroom blockers.'
Henry Porpora and Amelia Goldsmith, co-founders of SULT, said: 'We started SULT because we saw how many people were walking around dehydrated, tired, and burnt out - not just athletes, but everyday people juggling busy lives.'
Sarah said there are five ways to improve your hydration:

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
UK heatwave map shows exactly where in Britain faces scorching three-day 33C heat blast
As urgent weather warnings are put in place across parts of the UK, a new interactive map shows Brits whether or not their area will be affected by the fourth sweltering heatwave of summer 2025 High-level weather warnings are now in place across five areas of the UK as the nation faces the fourth heatwave of summer 2025. Temperatures are expected to soar into the mid-30s within the next 24 hours, with a heat health alert issued as of 9am this morning across London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, the South East, and the East of England. As of yesterday (Monday, August 11), a total of 234 local areas were seeing heatwave conditions, with the warm blast spreading across most of England apart from areas in the North East and Cumbria, as well as coastal areas in the East and South. Now, an easy-to-use interactive map allows Brits to see whether or not their area will be affected. Check if your area is in heatwave conditions today by typing your postcode into the following interactive map: According to the official definition set by the Met Office, temperatures must have risen above 28C for three consecutive days for those areas to be experiencing a true heatwave. This means one sunny afternoon in the garden simply won't cut it. Interestingly, this definition differs across the country, with a slightly lower threshold of 27C in some parts of the South East, while this threshold drops again to just 25C in the South West of England, most of Wales, Northern England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. You can find out more about the Met Office's definitions of heatwave thresholds here. Temperatures approached 30C in various parts of the country yesterday, with areas of central and southern England set to meet heatwave criteria by midweek. The Met Office has warned that this latest wave will impact the health sector's capacity to deliver important services. The weather is expected to lead to "overheating" in indoor environments of community and care settings, as well as issues managing medicines. It's understood the sector is also bracing for staffing issues due to "external factors", including transport delays and increased power demand exceeding capacity. Dr Paul Coleman, Consultant in Public Health at the UK Health Security Agency, has issued the following statement: "Temperatures are forecast to rise above 30°C across central and southern parts of the country over the next few days, and generally hot weather is expected across most regions of England. "These kinds of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population – particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions - so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun. "If you have friends, family or neighbours who are vulnerable, it is important to ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice. Check in on them if you can to make sure they know that hot weather is on the way and how to keep themselves safe."


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
UK official warning as Brits told avoid this between 11 and 3 today
An amber heat health alert is in place for several areas of England Brits have been warned to avoid the sun between specific hours over the coming days amid an amber heat health alert. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that temperatures are expected to exceed 30C in certain areas, leading to 'serious' health risks. The amber heat health warning is in place from today (August 12) until tomorrow evening for five parts of England. This alert means ' weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service'. Those aged over 65 years or those with pre-existing health conditions are also particularly vulnerable, according to experts. Areas with the heat alert in place are the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, London, and East of England. In addition, the North West and North East regions, as well as the South West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions are under a yellow heat health alert. Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said: 'Temperatures are forecast to rise above 30C across central and southern parts of the country over the next few days, and generally hot weather is expected across most regions of England. 'These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population – particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions - so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun. 'If you have friends, family or neighbours who are vulnerable, it is important to ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice. Check in on them if you can to make sure they know that hot weather is on the way and how to keep themselves safe.' As part of the UKHSA advice for staying safe in hot weather, people have been told to keep out of the sun at the 'hottest time of the day' - between 11am and 3pm. Other guidance includes: Keeping your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun If you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly If you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening Knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them Symptoms Before it progresses into heatstroke, the warning signs of heat exhaustion include: Tiredness Dizziness Headache Feeling sick or being sick Cramps in the arms, legs, and stomach Excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy, or getting a heat rash Fast breathing or heartbeat A high temperature Being very thirsty Weakness Still feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, being cooled and drinking fluids a very high temperature Having hot skin that's not sweating and might look red (this can be harder to see on brown and black skin) A fast heartbeat Fast breathing or shortness of breath Confusion and lack of coordination A seizure or fit Loss of consciousness


Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I'm a GP – here's the 9 surprising signs your child is dangerously dehydrated and what you must do
It is important to keep your kids out of the rays, particularly between 11 and three o'clock, the doctor said TAKE NOTE I'm a GP – here's the 9 surprising signs your child is dangerously dehydrated and what you must do Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH warm weather with us again, Brits will be trying to balance keeping cool with making the most of the sunshine. But doctors are urging parents to watch for signs of dehydration in their kids as temperatures rise. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 If you child is weeing less and seems irritable or drowsy, chances are they're dehydrated Credit: Getty 4 Parts of the UK are forecast to reach highs of 34C on the Met Office website Credit: MET Office After weeks of grey weather and showers, Brits are finally set to be treated to some more summer-y weather, according to the Met Office. Some areas will even experience balmy heats of 34C, as the mercury soars, said the forecaster. Temperatures are expected to be highest in central and southern England, particularly in London, but are expected to be up by at least a degree or two, right across the UK. GP and clinical consultant for Dr Sarah Jarvis told The Sun that dehydration is something that should concern all parents, whatever the age of their tots. But mums and dads should be "particularly careful" if their children are under one, she stressed - even more so if their baby is six months and younger, was born prematurely or had a low birth weight. Factors like tummy bugs - which are extremely common in young children, according to Dr Jarvis - and whether you've recently stopped breastfeeding your tot might make dehydration more likely, she went on. The GP listed the nine signs parents should watch out for indicating their children are dangerously dehydrated. 1. They're weeing less For kids still wearing nappies, you might notice they have fewer wet ones, Dr Jarvis said. She said less than four wet nappies a day could mean your baby is parched. For kids who are potty and toilet trained, parents should take not if they're going less frequently and their wee is "dark and strong smelling", the GP added. 2. They're not producing tears If your little one is crying but not producing any tears, that's a red flag that they need some liquids, Dr Jarvis said. 3. They have a sunken soft spot on their head Babies have soft spot on the top of their head that's called a fontanelle. If this is sunken, this means your tot is dehydrated, Sarah explained. 4. They have sunken eyes Another thing to watch out for in children - not just babies - is sunken eyes. 5. Their lips are dry 4 When your body doesn't have enough fluids, it can lead to dry, chapped lips Credit: Getty You should check if your child's lips, mouth and tongue look dry - if so, it's a sign they need some water, Dr Jarvis said. 6. They're complaining As children get older, they'll obviously be able to tell you if they're feeling thirsty, so keep an ear out, Dr Jarvis advised parents. 7. Their hands and feet are cold If your kid's hands and feet are cold despite the heat, this is a dehydration red flag, according to the GP. When you're dehydrated, your circulation might shut down and be diverted from your peripherals - your hands and feet - so it can supply your vital organs, she explained. 8. They seem irritable 4 Irritability is a common symptom of dehydration, especially in children Credit: Getty Another sign to look out for is if your baby or child seems irritable, drowsy or confused. 9. They're breathing faster than normal Your tot breathing faster than normal could again indicate dehydration, as can a faster heartbeat. Most parents won't easily be able to spot a change in their kid's heart rate that easily, but Dr Jarvis said a change in breathing would be noticeable. What do I do to avoid dehydration? "Do remember that children will be happy to run in the sun," Dr Jarvis said. But she said it was important to keep them out of the rays, particularly between 11 and three o'clock. Babies under six months should be kept out of the sun completely, the GP emphasised. And she advised you slather your kids in SPF 50 sun cream. Dr Jarvis added: "Sun suits can be really helpful." These body-covering suits are made of a light, stretchy fabric that can block out UV rays better than loose weave clothing, even it they totally cover your tot's skin. You also pop a hat on your kids' and babies' heads, she went on - it should have a flap at the back to cover their neck and a cap in the front to cover their face. Most of all, "make sure that a drink is always there," Dr Jarvis stressed. Fully breastfed babies don't need any extra water and formula should be enough to keep bottle fed little ones hydrated too. Carry on feeding you baby as usual, but you can give them smaller and more frequent amounts if you think they're dehydrated, NHS guidance stated. If your baby is on formula or on solid food, you can give them small sips of extra water - this should be boiled and cooled. You shouldn't make your babies formula weaker or young children fruit juice or fizzy drinks, the NHS said. Finally, to keep your kids cool, Dr Jarvis recommended you make sure their bedrooms don't heat up throughout the day by closing the blinds. If you have a nursery thermometer, the ideal temperature for the space will be between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius, the GP said. You can also place a paddling pool in a shaded area to stop your tots from overheating - but always supervise them. And a cool bath before bedtime can be helpful, Dr Jarvis added.