Dehydration Effects

[Texans Horror]

From what I have been reading and hearing about the Texans Training Camp, it sounds like many of the players are suffering from dehydration/heat exhaustion. I thought this would be a good time to ask about dehydration.

I was wondering if anyone (like CloakNNNDagger) could talk to the symptoms/effects of dehydration. I was also wondering how long it can take to recover from dehydration, especially if they try to play through it. Let me throw out a scenario. Let's say Player A is put on IVs because of dehydration. What will happen over the next few days, assuming he is playing and not sitting in a cool room sipping tea?

Thanks!

[Brandon420tx]

I suffered from Dehydration earlier this summer, it is NOT fun at all. Your always hot and cold at the same time, your stomach is screwed, The good news is you get alot of excercise... running to the bathroom.

[TwinSisters]

no tea.

Unless it is caffeine free.

[Hulk75]

Originally Posted by oso

From what I have been reading and hearing about the Texans Training Camp, it sounds like many of the players are suffering from dehydration/heat exhaustion. I thought this would be a good time to ask about dehydration.

I was wondering if anyone (like CloakNNNDagger) could talk to the symptoms/effects of dehydration. I was also wondering how long it can take to recover from dehydration, especially if they try to play through it. Let me throw out a scenario. Let's say Player A is put on IVs because of dehydration. What will happen over the next few days, assuming he is playing and not sitting in a cool room sipping tea?

Thanks!

Yea I heard that Steve McKinney was in bad shape a couple days ago.

[cap1]

Originally Posted by oso

From what I have been reading and hearing about the Texans Training Camp, it sounds like many of the players are suffering from dehydration/heat exhaustion. I thought this would be a good time to ask about dehydration.

I was wondering if anyone (like CloakNNNDagger) could talk to the symptoms/effects of dehydration. I was also wondering how long it can take to recover from dehydration, especially if they try to play through it. Let me throw out a scenario. Let's say Player A is put on IVs because of dehydration. What will happen over the next few days, assuming he is playing and not sitting in a cool room sipping tea?

Thanks!

I am not a Dr. I have had to supervise some people when I was in Iraq and to keep them from getting dehydrated (or heat Exhaustion) you need to make sure that the person drinks plenty of water and eats something at every meal. Also, the people need to stay away from Diuretics like cokes, coffee, and supplements. The last thing is the people need to get some good sleep.

Also, we wore about 45 Lbs. of body armor, ammo, and other gear. The heat there was terrible.

As far as recovering from it, the person that is dehydrated needs to eat and drink plenty of fluids and get out of the heat for about 24 hours. After that they should be fine. Again I am no doctor, I am just speaking from personal experience.

[Runner]

Interesting topic. I had heat exhaustion in San Antonio once - it was no fun. I was able to lounge around for a week afterwards though so it masked any lingering effects. I definitely wasn't very alert and felt very weak when I had it though.

I've heard a lot of players are getting IV's after practice. I assume that treats the immediate symptoms of dehydration/heat exhaustion - but what happens if they have to get out on the field and practice again the next day? How long are they more suspectible to heat problems, if at all?

[Brandon420tx]

I forgot about how hard it was to think and move during those 2 days it felt like I was half dead.

[Texans Horror]

I've been dehydrated pretty bad before. It took me a few days to recover. Lot of soup and water, but, in relation to training camp -- I know I couldn't have gone out the next day to exercise under the sun. I needed a few days' rest.

I also know that a deyhdrated body gets injured easier than a hydrated one, and as has been stated in other threads, are injury report is getting pretty long. I wonder how much of that is weather and if moving more practices to inside the bubble is in the cards for the Texans Training Camp.

[CloakNNNdagger]

During practices, keeping in mind that 60% of body weight is water, our players loose fluid through the skin as sweat, through the lungs as they breathe and as urine. If fluid is not replaced continually during a game or training it can quickly lead to dehydration. Football players are at increased risk of dehydration in part because of the equipment they wear. The gear is designed for protection, but the necessary padding does not allow for evaporation or cooling. Lineman carry the heaviest equipment. Most people don’t realize it but it’s not uncommon for players to lose anywhere between 5-15 pounds during a game or workout, especially during two-a-day practices. That’s probably why the Texans only have one outdoor practice (or one at night) per day. Furthermore, helmets substantially reduce the body’s ability to release heat, increasing body temperature and the risk of heat illness. Players that are dehydrated will fatigue earlier, lose coordination skills and have a higher risk of heat exhaustion, heat illness or even heat stroke. Our players need to make sure that they are well hydrated pre, intra, and post play.

A typical sports drink, around 5-6% dextrose, is absorbed in the body as rapidly as water. But unlike water, a sports drink can provide energy (sugar)to the working muscles, delay fatigue and improve performance. Players that consume a sports drink can maintain higher energy levels at a time when energy stores are becoming depleted. Players who dilute sports drinks don't get enough carbohydrate to maintain energy levels. Also, drinking bever-
ages that have a high carbohydrate level, like soft drinks and some fruit juices, can slow fluid absorption. The balance is very important. Your thirst reminder doesn’t start working until you are at least 2% depleted of body weight by sweating . Thirst mechanisms don’t kick in until a player has lost about 2% of his body weight as sweat. Remember, lineman are our heaviest players. In other words, a larger OL or DL player who weighs 250 pounds will lose 5 approximately pounds before he even becomes thirsty. fortunately, this small amount of fluid loss can hurt performance skills and the player may be fatigued before he starts to drink! Players often drink to quench their mouth thirst. If a player only drinks to quench his thirst he may be replacing only 1/2 to 2/3 of the fluids lost. As a result, he will start the next practice or workout in a state of dehydration. Football players should be made to drink throughout the day whether they are thirsty or not. Again, it is important that players hydrate pre, intra, and post play. The formula is essentially 20 ounces to of fluid for each pound of weight loss. It’s also very smart for players to preload with about 20 ounces prior to play. Believe it or not if the players live it up with caffeine or alcohol, these are strong diuretics and you can literally be peeing in the wind trying to catch up............but of course, our players don’t drink........

Bottom line, when you get dehydrated, losing water, electrolytes and sugar, your muscle strength and muscle coordination which is so important to stabilizing and protecting joints suffers.......the whole player fatigues........and injuries become more common.

[shinerbock_girl]

Originally Posted by oso

From what I have been reading and hearing about the Texans Training Camp, it sounds like many of the players are suffering from dehydration/heat exhaustion. I thought this would be a good time to ask about dehydration.

I was wondering if anyone (like CloakNNNDagger) could talk to the symptoms/effects of dehydration. I was also wondering how long it can take to recover from dehydration, especially if they try to play through it. Let me throw out a scenario. Let's say Player A is put on IVs because of dehydration. What will happen over the next few days, assuming he is playing and not sitting in a cool room sipping tea?

Thanks!

I'm sure they have IV's ready to go as well to replace fluid loss immediately...as long as you are hydrated immediately, which u know the Texans are monitoring closely, they'll be fine....Its the ones that don't replace hydration that are in some serious trouble...

[Texan Asylum]

I actually had a case of reverse dehydration. I drank so much water that the specific gravity of my urine was nil. You CAN drink too much water. That's why appropriate sports drinks and salt tablets are vital.

[Hardcore Texan]

I too spent some time in the desert in soutwest Asia, Saudi Arabia to be exact. It is brutal, I never let myself get too dehydrated but I saw the effects of it many times. Cramps and nausea set in pretty fast but if you can get an IV in time you will recovery will be shortened.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Luv_ya_blue

But I remember being DOWN and having to eat beef and chicken BROTH! It tasted like somebody washed a chicken and then gave me what was in the bottom of the sink when they finished!!!!

I'm not laughing at your situation, Luv ya blue, but your description of chicken broth is right on the money! I've had to endure that wicked brew with digestive track problems, and it tastes even nastier in a hospital. That's just some nasty stuff, no matter what you do with it.

[Hutch13]

Drink Lots of Water!

[SheTexan]

I had heat exhaustion after the Jags game in 2003, the Raiders game in 2004, and the Steelers game in 2005. I could probably add a couple other games that nearly did me in! Headache for two to three days, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, had to miss a couple days work after the Jags game and the Raider game. Got smart at the Steeler game and went home before the heat got the best of me.

Some of you guys commenting about heat exhaustion, dehydration, etc, are some of the one's who complain about the roof being closed. Think about it!

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Hutch13

Drink Lots of Water!

But not too much.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Runner

But not too much.

Good advice from Runner, because you can drink too much water.
An excess amount of water can actually dilute the electrolytes in your blood.

[TexansLucky13]

Originally Posted by oso

From what I have been reading and hearing about the Texans Training Camp, it sounds like many of the players are suffering from dehydration/heat exhaustion.

I was there today... and I was wiped out after 4 hours of standing in the sun. I can only imagine what that does to the players. Not to mention that I only got a few hours of sleep last night. Tip for those going to Training Camp.... plenty of water, plenty of rest the night before!