There's nothing wrong with sports drinks, says Dr. Muntz, but he warns that too much blood sugar can actually slow you down. If you wait until you are thirsty, then you're already in trouble. Heat exhaustion results from water and salt loss, and from overexposure to the sun. Excessive heat exposure causes an average of 4523 deaths annually in the United States, a number easily doubled in 1995 by this summer's deadly heat wave. Formerly believed to replace salt lost through sweat, salt tablets only accelerate dehydration.
Sports drinks are a safer way to replace the body's lost minerals.
Avoid alcoholic beverages. They only speed dehydration and impair judgement. When exercising or working outdoors, stop at the first sign of fatigue, light-headedness or dizziness Someone suffering from heat exhaustion has pale and clammy skin. The victim could a headache, be dizzy and weak, vomit or even faint. It just takes some care, planning and common sense.