Winter hydration vital as cold cuts thirst

EXPERTS SAY HIDDEN DEHYDRATION RISKS HIGH FOR CHILDREN, ELDERLY AND OUTDOOR WORKERS

- BY ASHWANI KUMAR Chief Reporter

Even in cooler winter months, UAE residents are at risk of dehydration, doctors warn, as reduced thirst cues and dry indoor air can mask ongoing fluid loss.

Specialists told Gulf News that although people feel less thirsty in winter, the body continues to lose water through breathing, urination, mild sweating and exposure to heated indoor environments.

"In winter, peripheral blood vessels constrict to preserve body heat. This increases central blood volume and signals the brain that the body is adequately hydrated, reducing the natural thirst drive by up to 40 per cent," said Dr Yassmin Moustafa, Specialist Family Medicine at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, noting that the mismatch increases risks of "hidden" dehydration, particularly among children, the elderly, and those spending long hours outdoors.