Hydration

I recently had a health-wise wake-up call.

Late last month I was at work at the prison and was quite busy. I had a stack of work that needed to get done, so I was moving from project to project without delay. Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful for the workload because it was making my shift fly by at Hyperdrive speed. I just forgot to stop for a few seconds between assignments to drink water. THAT, ladies and gentlemen, was my undoing.

It was hot that day. (Summer in Texas is HOT.) The temperature was in the high 90’s (F) with a heat index of about 107 (F). That, combined with the fact that I did not drink enough water, caused my blood pressure to spike. I don’t remember the exact numbers, but they were sky high. My heart felt like it was going to burst through my ribcage and dance a jig on top of my chest. The doctor in the prison clinic opted to send me to the hospital because he thought I was having a heart attack.

After the ER doctor, Doctor Disney (yes, folks, that was his name), ordered two blood tests, he determined that I had gotten too hot and was quite dehydrated. So, I’ve put myself onto a special diet. The diet consists of low carbs, low sugar, more vegetables and lean protein and LOTS of water. I’m taking my younger son’s dog on walks when it’s not quite so hot in the day. I’m also taking time to walk around the housing unit more often as well.

I have to remind myself to drink water BEFORE I get thirsty. If I’ve waited until I’m thirsty, I’ve waited too long. If I’m not thirsty, drink water anyway. Hydration, hydration, hydration.

Besides, a hydrated mind is a creative mind.