Health Watch is a public service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, wer'e talking about working out and what you need to do to keep healthy while you exercise. One thing that's important is to remain hydrated.

When you work up a sweat, you lose fluid and minerals. That's why Dr. Benjamin Levine, a sports medicine specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says you need to stay hydrated, especially when you're working out in hot conditions. For shorter workouts, like taking a run or visiting the health club on your way home from work, you should drink when you're thirsty and then salt your food so you can replace salt and water lost through sweat. Serious athletes should weigh themselves before and after a workout so they can get a better sense of how much fluid they need to replace. Be careful not to drink too much water. That can be as bad for you as dehydration.

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September 2006

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