Staying Hydrated During Concussion Recovery

Proper hydration is often underestimated, but it plays a crucial role in supporting your body’s recovery, especially during a concussion.

Let’s discuss why maintaining proper hydration is vital during concussion recovery:

1. 1. Brain Function: Adequate hydration helps maintain the optimal balance of cerebral fluids, ensuring that your brain functions at its best. Dehydration can exacerbate symptoms like dizziness and headaches, which are common after a concussion.
   2. Tissue Repair: Hydration supports the body’s natural healing processes, enabling efficient tissue repair, including that of brain cells damaged during the injury.
   3. Medication Effectiveness: If you’re taking medications to manage concussion symptoms, being well-hydrated ensures these drugs can work as intended and minimizes potential side effects.

Tips for Staying Hydrated:

• • Drink Water Regularly: The simplest and most effective way to stay hydrated is to drink water consistently throughout the day. Keep a reusable water bottle with you to remind yourself to sip regularly.
  • Set a Schedule: Establish a hydration routine by drinking water at specific intervals, such as every hour or with each meal.
  • Monitor Urine Color: Pay attention to the color of your urine. Clear to pale yellow indicates proper hydration, while dark yellow or amber may be a sign of dehydration.
  • Hydrating Foods: Incorporate foods with high water content into your diet, such as watermelon, cucumber, oranges, and strawberries.

Hydrating Foods and Beverages include:

• Water: Start your day with a glass of water, and make it a habit to drink water between meals.
• Herbal Teas: Unsweetened herbal teas like chamomile or mint can be both soothing and hydrating.
• Coconut Water: This natural electrolyte-rich beverage can help replenish lost fluids.
• Broth-Based Soups: Soups made from clear broths, such as chicken or vegetable, can provide both hydration and nourishment.
• Hydrating Fruits: Include fruits like watermelon and oranges in your diet, which have high water content.
• Cucumber and Celery: These vegetables are not only hydrating but also make for healthy, low-calorie snacks.

Schedule an appointment at the Neuroscience Group Interventional Pain Clinic

 It is important to remember that everyone’s hydration needs can vary, so it is essential to listen to your body and adjust your fluid intake accordingly. Concussions can increase your need for hydration due to increased bodily stress and potential medication use so staying mindful of fluid intake is important.

If you are suffering from a concussion, contact Neuroscience Group to get started on treatment and get back to living the life you love.