Avoid Dehydration Fatigue on Summer Automobile Trips
Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) September 13, 2013 -- Ever wonder why long automobile and truck trips are so exhausting even though all anyone does is sit? According to water and heath researcher Sharon Kleyne, car trip fatigue has the same cause as the dry, chafed skin and lips, and tired, bleary eyes that also occur during long road trips. Education about automobile air and automotive air conditioning and heating, reports Kleyne, can help avoid these discomforts.
Sharon Kleyne is Founder of Bio Logic Aqua Research, a water and health research and product development center. Natures Tears® EyeMist® is the company’s global signature product for dry eye and dry facial skin. The all-natural product contains 100% trade secret water. As part of an ongoing commitment to educating the public about water and health, Kleyne hosts the globally syndicated Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water® radio show on VoiceAmerica and Apple iTunes.
Car and truck trip fatigue, according to Kleyne, especially in summer, is often the result of dehydration or loss of natural water in the skin, eyes and body. Dehydration can also cause dry eye complaints, headaches, chapped lips and tight or itchy skin. Dehydration also causes jet lag discomfort associated with airline trips. The climate control system in some buildings can similarly cause dehydration, fatigue and dryness.
Several factors in a modern automobile or truck - or airline cabin of climate controlled building – can result in dehydration, Kleyne explains. They include constant wind from the air conditioner or heater, lack of air exchange with the outside, humidity that is too low, and for the driver, the need to constantly stay focused. Staring at the road for hours substantially lowers the reflexive blink rate of the eyelids, causing the water at the eyes’ surface to evaporate at a much faster rate. This can result in dry eye complaints such as fatigue and blurred vision.
When a person is driving, says Kleyne, and suddenly can’t keep their eyes open, the eyes are probably reacting to temporary surface dehydration, not lack of sleep. Glare, road grime, gasoline fumes, recirculated air and rapid temperature and humidity changes from getting in and out also contribute to car trip dehydration and discomfort.
Sharon Kleyne’s suggestions: Avoid using the heater/air conditioner, if possible, to keep the car’s interior temperature and humidity similar to the outside. When using the air conditioning and heating, it is important to avoid aiming the vent directly at the face or eyes. Stop frequently to rest and refresh the eyes. When stopping, get out of the car slowly and take a few deep breaths to acclimate to the sudden change in temperature and water vapor/humidity. Deep breathing is surprisingly effective, says Kleyne. Wear sunglasses to avoid glare.
To assure fresh air inside the car, keep a window slightly opened if you can. Otherwise, briefly open all the windows every half-hour or so. The old triangular coach windows were ideal for air exchange. Avoid food or drinks containing sugar and sweeteners, all of which are dehydrating.
Drink lots of water before, during and after the trip. Sharon Kleyne advocates at least eight glasses per day in addition to all other fluids. Water helps maintain hydration and flushes out toxins. If that means more restroom stops, that is healthy because stopping rest the eyes and. allows exercise.
And finally, to slow dehydration, keep a personal portable hand-held skin and eye humidifying device in the car and mist frequently. Misting can be especially helpful when eyes become uncomfortable and difficult to keep open. That’s also a good time to pull over and rest. Kleyne recommends keeping Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® in the car at all times for eye and skin hydration.
Mikaylah Roggasch, Bio Logic Aqua Research-Rogue Media, +1 (800) 367-6478, [email protected]
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