Cystic Fibrosis: Summertime Tips
Stay hydrated
Super-hot temperatures can cause dehydration in people without CF very quickly. Combine high temperatures with summertime physical activities and the risk of dehydration is ever higher. People with CF know that it is important for them to drink plenty of fluids, but they may need to increase that amount during the hottest temperatures in summer.
It may be difficult for parents of younger athletes with CF to get them to drink water. However, when athletes with CF sweat, their bodies tend to produce a higher concentration of salt. As a result, the following traits occur:
- Increased sodium loss
- Feeling less thirsty than those without CF
- Choosing to drink less than those without CF
- More prone to dehydration
- Complain about the taste of sports drinks that are high in sodium
