Parts of the UK are preparing for the hottest day of the year so far on Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 29C. Forecasters are predicting that this could be the hottest start to May on record for the UK as the sun continues to shine for the fourth consecutive day.
However, as people prepare to bask in the sunshine, there are concerns that the heatwave could cause dehydration or even heatstroke in some cases.Parvinder Sagoo, lead pharmacist and health adviser for Simply Meds Online, said it is important to drink more water than normal in the heat as the body loses liquids at a faster rate.
Talking to The Independent, he said: "Your body is losing liquids through sweat and perspiration, and water can replace these vital liquids.
"You are more likely to be dehydrated when it’s hot, so drinking water in hot and humid weather should help to counteract dehydration. Drinking water also helps to lower body temperature."
GP Dr Angela Rai added that people should be drinking up to three litres of water per day during a heatwave.
She said: "It is recommended to drink around eight glasses of water per day, which equals around 1.5-2 litres per day.
"However, in hot weather and especially if we are exercising, our water requirements will go up. We need to drink up to around three litres a day on a hot day. However, it is important to space this out throughout the day and not to drink excessive amounts all at once."
According to the NHS, the most common signs of dehydration include:
To health service recommends drinking water regularly and when you feel any of these symptoms to reduce the risk of dehydration.
