Wow I just had a freaky experience. I went for a long bike ride 10km, and it was the first time in a while. After 15 min I realized I didn't take water but the weather was great and I told myself I'd be fine-wrong thing to do... I got home put my bike back and immediately got a glass of water. After a few gulps I felt dizzy, my hearing became slightly pitched, amd I put the water down, called my cousin to help me. I felt as if I was going to throw up, and then something really freaked me out, my vision turned black and all I could see are faint light spots from sunshine. I lost balance but with help I sat down. After 15 min I'm here and I'm glad everything is normal. Lesson learned, keep fluids around!!
Definitely scary man, but glad everything is OK. I myself do a fair amount of biking ranging from flat trails to extreme trails mostly used by extreme hobbyists in the mid-west. I know that after taking a ~4 month break for winter each year, it always takes some time to adjust and pick up the pace. And +1, water is a must, especially on those hot days whether you are riding in the forest under the shade or in direct sun. Can never have too much water.
Thats crazy! I don't go anywhere without water...especially at my age. I'm almost as old as Richy so I have to be careful!
I know Luke is younger than some guys but its important for everyone to know: As you age, total body water starts to decrease. Meaning what tissue was once 80 percent water content for example goes to 79% and so on as time passes. Another major issue, really apparent with the elderly crowd is that your thirst sensation can really start to diminish. In normal populations, once you start feel thirsty you are probably 2%(ish) dehydrated. In older populations, they may not start to feel thirsty until they get to 3-4% which is a really fine line for them - thats why many older people may be hospitalized for something as simple as dehydration. Another thing for consideration in the beginning of everyone's seasons it the acclimatization of your sweat glands to the heat. Until your body realizes that it will be sweating regularly and potentially heavily, for people who aren't training or into any sort of exercise, your sweat not only contains water to cool, but lots of electrolytic ions. In other words, sweat is very salty and concentrated until your body gets used to sweating for major cooling at which point it begins to sweat more dilute. So for those on the first few hot day details, you need to bring electrolyte replacement drinks along with water, and drink them even when you don't feel thirsty. For those who say, well I don't want to use the bathroom etc.. performance and mental acuity are effected in the 2% and higher range of dehydration meaning you are NOT going to detail as smoothly and will not be able to think clearly if you get THAT dry. (and some of you may notice a mental "delay" if you are dehydrated or not drinking enough..something as simple as forgetting your brush from your bin once or twice or forgetting what your next task on a detail is.) BTW that sounds like heat related stress(almost heat stroke).. the hearing "ping" and the spots are pretty good indicators as well as the nauseous feeling. If this ever happens to you guys(the heat related stuff - lightheaded, confusion, nausea, claminess in the severe cases etc..), Get COOL IMMEDIATELY. Stop what you are doing, get in the shade, soak yourself with cool stream of water(Armpits, trunk, head, groin) if you need to. Heat stress is absolutely NO joke and nothing to mess around with because things can go from bad to worse literally in seconds.
One more thing for me to add. Once you get heat stress(heatstroke) once, its comes back really easily again. I got hit once when I was in Hong Kong a few years ago. A good 6 hours on the street for a few days in 32C weather and I was messed up for quite a few days. After that, even though now I'm back in Vancouver, I get that nauseous feeling and headaches from heat really easily.
I'm one of those guys that never drank much my entire life. I really start MAKING myself drink more water in the past year or so and it's made a big difference. I live in Texas, so it's always hot. Too hot. For me, I just didn't like drinking regular water. So I pretty much only drink Pellegrino now. You can laugh you want to, but I can put a 750 mil bottle down no problem.
110 degree weather, no shade, full body Armour and 40 pounds of gear strapped to you 10 hours of training........ yeah, I almost passed out and that was with water.
Reading this made me thirsty for water lol, but good to hear you're okay. Summer around here is mostly all triple digit weather so its a habit for me to have water with me at all times.
This has happened to me before a few times (several years ago)...sitting down and then guzzling water always solved the issue for me. Interestingly (or not) enough, it never happened when outside in the heat, but was always when indoors and wearing too many layers, as in, being in a store or somewhere and not taking my coat off.
Lots of good info there mike. Fluid losses of 2% can decrease performance and as little as 1% has been associated with increased body temperatures during exercise. It is recommended that men get at least ~ 3.7L of water per day and women ~2.7L. This amount will increase the more you sweat. By properly weighing yourself before/ after activity you can see how much fluid you've lost. Every pound you lose equals ~ .5L of fluid loss. Thus, you should consume .5L of water per pound you lose during exercise. Before activity it is recommended you consume .5L of water 2 hours prior to beginning. Then drink every ~15 min. during exercise. It has been found that 8 ounces of fluid will empty from the stomach faster then smaller volumes. So they actually recommend quickly finishing the 8 ounces every ~15 min. if it does not cause any discomfort. If you are consuming a sports drink, then it should be composed of 6%- 8% carbohydrates as this amount is found to absorb more quickly. Resources- American College of Sports Medicine & National Strength and Conditioning Association.
