Stay Close to Ole' Reliable Getting enough water is crucial to your health even without exercise. Everyone's heard the eight cups of water a day guideline. Some people say that sounds like a high number, but when you consider that the average person loses about 10 cups of water a day through sweating, exhaling, urinating and bowel movement, eight cups almost doesn't sound like enough. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat strokes are serious afflictions. Heat cramps are characterized by muscle cramps, twitching and spasms.
Symptoms related to heat exhaustion include headaches, dizziness, weakness and shortness of breath.
Heatstroke encompasses all of the above symptoms plus disorientation, confusion or loss of consciousness. Don't wait until you feel thirsty. It takes about a week to get used to exercising in the heat. In the heat of the day, head for the shade, perform you workout inside or hit the pool. Avoid hot and heavy meals.