Cystic Fibrosis: Summertime Tips

The following tips may help prevent dehydration, especially during the summer:

• Drink at least 64 oz. per day and don't wait until you feel thirsty. Athletic trainers recommend filling a 64-oz container with water to monitor how much fluid you are consuming on a daily basis.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages. Caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, and soda do not count as going towards your 64-oz goal. Caffeinated beverages are actually diuretics and cause you to lose more fluid by making you urinate more often. If your urine is dark yellow, you need to back off the caffeine and drink more water.
• Drink just before, during, and immediately after any exercise routines. It is normally recommended that you drink between 8 and 12 oz. every 20 to 30 minutes, but may need to drink more often if it is extremely hot outside.

Tips for keeping children with CF hydrated:

• Offer commercially available, flavored, high sodium sports drinks that contain extra carbohydrates and higher levels of sodium (such as Gatorade, Powerade, or Pedialyte).
• If palatable, you might want to add 1/4 teaspoon to your child's regular sports drink or water to help replenish lost sodium.
• Never push consumption beyond your child's thirst level. While you will want to closely monitor the amount of estimated fluid lost, you don't want to push a child with CF to drink too much if they are not thirsty.