Are your kidneys also thirsty in the rain? Silent attack of ‘hidden dehydration’ in monsoon, Lucknow doctor warns

As soon as torrential rains and monsoon arrive in most parts of the country, people naturally reduce their desire for water. Due to cold weather and less thirst, the general public has a misconception that dehydration (lack of water in the body) is a problem of scorching summer only. However, Dr Alok Kumar Pandey, Associate Director, Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplant, Regency Health, Lucknow, has issued a very serious health warning. According to Dr. Pandey, ‘hidden dehydration’ caused by excessive moisture and seasonal diseases during the monsoon months is secretly causing serious damage to human kidneys. The illusion of high humidity: Know why the water level secretly decreases during the rainy season. Even though a drop in temperature is recorded during monsoon, the level of humidity in the atmosphere increases a lot. In this humid environment, fluids keep coming out of our body in the form of sweat. Since there is high humidity in the environment, this sweat evaporates very slowly from the skin, due to which humans do not realize how much water they are losing. Along with this, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, vomiting and various viral infections, which become active during the rainy season, rapidly deplete the levels of electrolytes from the body, increasing the risk of dehydration manifold. Direct attack on the kidneys: Due to decreased blood circulation, the risk of pre-renal acute kidney injury is looming. Both the kidneys present in the human body are completely dependent on continuous blood supply to clean the blood, remove waste products and maintain electrolyte balance. Explaining its biological effects, Dr. Alok Kumar Pandey said, "When the total amount of blood in the body decreases due to dehydration, our body diverts blood flow to protect vital organs like the brain and heart. As a result, blood circulation to the kidneys suddenly drops, which can directly lead to Pre-Renal Acute Kidney Injury." Additionally, dehydration causes urine to become extremely concentrated, increasing the risk of kidney stones and UTIs. Who is most at risk? These 8 categories of people will have to take special precautions. According to medical experts, this silent dehydration of monsoon can make anyone its victim, but it can prove fatal for some particularly sensitive groups: Elderly adults, Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients, Small children and frequent travelers, Outdoor workers and athletes, People suffering from seasonal diseases like fever, diarrhea or vomiting, Office-going professionals. Consume excessive tea, coffee or sweet soft drinks instead of water Surefire way to protect kidneys during monsoon: Replenish electrolytes immediately To avoid this serious health crisis, Dr. Pandey has advised consuming electrolyte-rich fluids instead of relying only on plain water. Even if you do not feel thirsty, keep consuming buttermilk, lemon water (with a pinch of salt), optical and fresh coconut water at regular intervals. Also, keep a constant eye on the color of your urine; If the urine color is light yellow or transparent, it is an indicator of proper hydration, while dark yellow color is a warning that your kidneys urgently need water. Don’t ignore your health during this pleasant rainy season and protect your kidneys with adequate hydration.