Dehydration

[Langbot]

On the subject of hydration... has anyone tried that Diver's Dlyte thing I keep seeing ads for? Seems like a crazy niche gimmick to me. I can't imagine it works any better than normal water or gatorade. I'm pretty sure when I dive I only lose water due to exhalation. If you're losing a lot of electrolytes diving you're working at it entirely too hard IMO. But I'm a warm water diver, maybe one of you cold water divers can prove me wrong?

 

[Searcaigh]

I drink copious amounts of water and other things like Pocari Sweat and 100 Plus, I usually leave the coffee or coke until after the dive.

The temperatures over here hit 45-50C in the summer, even if you are not diving it is important to drink several liters of water per day. Having seen too many cases of renal disease due to poor drinking habits with the locals, it is something I would like to avoid as well as DCS.

 

[TSandM]

I am too lazy this morning to look up the references on Rubicon, but caffeine has been studied, and there is a net gain of water after drinking caffeinated beverages, despite the mild diuretic effect of the chemical.

I can't remember any of my GUE instructors except Steve White addressing the issue of coffee. He wasn't for it, but was okay with herbal or green tea. That was a personal opinion, though, and there is no science behind it.

As far as electrolytes go -- you do lose a small amount in sweat. People who are working on road crews and the like in extremely hot weather, and drinking water, can end up with deranged electrolytes and severe muscle cramping. I have seen this once in 18 years of ER practice in the desert. It takes fairly harsh conditions, and significant time. For most of the rest of us, who take action to minimize our heat discomfort, the electrolyte losses from a few hours outside are not that great, and will largely be supplied by anything you eat. If you're worried about it, take some nuts or a small bag of chips on the boat. Expensive electrolyte replacement solutions just aren't necessary.

 

[Crowley]

I work in Egypt and it hits 40+ in the summer (max 50 degrees last year - ooof!) so hydration is very important - especially because it's such a dry heat. We recommend at least 5 litres of water per day in the summer, and the boats are plenty stocked with water.

There has been much debate about coffee/tea but having a good cup of either to kickstart you in the morning is no big deal; I understand that your average cup of coffee is actually a net hydrator and therefore nothing to worry about and anyway - it's a good start to the morning; diving doesn't have to mean total abstinence from the finer things in life.

In the hot, hot summer with the oven baked desert winds I drink a 500ml bottle of water with rehydration salts last thing before bed, and again first thing in the morning. TSandM would have better knowledge, but I have been told that we re-hydrate better during sleepy time at night than we do during the day.

I won't take the attitude that "if you don't drink water you can't dive", but I am always on the lookout for symptoms that might determine whether or not somebody should participate in a dive - we're all grown up now and I'm a dive instructor, not a personal physician and I don't see it as my responsibility to regiment the diet of each individual customer. If I can see that somebody is showing signs then yes, I will stop them from diving and of course look after them, but people have to take responsibility for themselves.

In my location, the biggest problem is beer. I like a good drink, but make a point of ensuring I am properly hydrated for work the next day. Sadly, many people don't. They stay out late, get drunk, turn up to the dive centre with a bad hangover and then - well, the situation gets a bit more complicated.

For deep/tec diving, the risks are more significant, but for basic recreational diving, a modicum of caution and common sense goes a long way.

Cheers

C.

 

[Krazytomdiver]

As a dive guide,I require a full cooler of water on the dive plus I include a few one liter plastic filled with water to be left out in the sun for post dive face/hair washing & to pour in the wet suit to prevent hyprothermea. You spend all day out diving,hours from land, fresh water becomes as important as any other piece of safety equipment. Eye wash,wound cleaning,jellyfish stings,equipment cleaning,etc. I also promote reuseble personal water bottles.

"living life without a hard bottom"
KT

 

[UseMyLungs]

I remember on my first ever dive, I got out of the water and I was so light headed I had to sit down. I was very dehydrated and since that event I always drink tons of water the night before and a huge gatorade before I go in.

 

[Guba]

Some very interesting info about the "diuretic effect" of caffeinated beverages comes not from scuba related research, but from that of long distance running. There are a number of distance runners who habitually "charge" by consuming a one-liter soft drink (my friend chooses Coca-cola) before major races. Current data indicates there is practically no net loss of electrolytes from consuming the beverage, and the runners claim the sugar aids them in maintaining their energy levels during the run. Since it's still virtually all water, the body registers a net gain in hydration effects.

On a different note, I take a couple of meds for high blood pressure. One of those contains a mild diuretic. For more extensive dive days, I arrange with my physician to take a compilation of medications that does not contain the diuretic in order to keep blood volume high. The short term effect of not taking the diuretic is negligible, and by doing so I feel I lessen the possibility of DCS induced by under-hydration.

 

[Christopher_B]

Dehydration is the biggest single factor in DCI cases. Always drink plenty of water. If your pee has no yellow in it, you're good.

 

[CuracaoJ]

Excellent news, thanks for the info. Tomorrow morning I am keeping my son company while he does his first peak buoyancy dive. I've already got the thermos sitting out next to the coffee maker!

 

[Garrobo]

To all: Just as a side note, about a year ago I found out that I was Type 2 diabetic. First thing my doc told me was to quit the soda pop, gatorade and the other energy drinks. Too much sugar and salt in them. I drank a lot of this stuff since, being a country boy when young and used to well water, I couldn't stand city water or bottled water because they either tasted like chlorine or had no taste at all. So I went for the flavored drinks. Anyway, within a month after quiting the stuff I went from 180 down to 160 and leveled off there. I now buy gallons of water from the supermarket and with a little spearmint or peppermint flavoring in it to give it a taste I can drink it OK. Another note, my urologist said to drink at least a gallon of water a day and my other doctor (internal medicine) says: "What the hell are you drinking so much water for? Knock it off and drink when you are thirsty." Oh well.