Hi there,
After months of slipping with my water intake in a major way (drinking one 2-3 glasses of pure water, the rest coffee/Crystal Light/soda) I started back today on the water wagon. I'm shooting for 8-10 glasses of pure water, more if I can. The reason I decided to do this (other than the health benefits) is that I moved to TX a few months ago from CA and I'm finding the weather here extremely dry. I caught a cold and for a week now I've been having nose bleeds from the dry air and the cold every day. I'm thinking maybe my body is dehydrated and drinking a lot of water will help ease the nose bleeds.

I know this is sort of off topic but I just wanted to know if anyone has had this experience and if drinking more water was helpful.
Thanks,

Tam

I live in a climate where we have the furnace on all winter & it gets extremely dry indoors, causing nose bleeds. We run a humidifer, that helped to reduce nosebleeds. I drink alot of water, and I think it does help keep my sinus passages & throat from drying out. Another big help for dry skin was taking 1-2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil everyday. I don't know if this was the info you were looking for, but I hope it helps.

I have to second the humidifier idea. It's been a godsend for our family as we travel quite frequently from the "wet" coast up to our cabin in the interior where it is very dry. We bought a humidifier for our cabin and we no longer wake up with bad sinuses or dry noses/throats or skin. Worth it's weight in gold IMHO.

Thank you so much for the replies! I know it was very off-topic so I appreciate it.

I think drinking the water has definately helped reduce the severity of the nose bleeds but I think you both are right that there's no way out but buying a humidifier. Didn't count on that when I was planning on moving .

However, at least it got me back to drinking lots of water (I'm managing 12-14 glasses a day so far) and I have to say I'm feeling much healthier, much lighter for some reason (maybe it's all those trips to the bathroom )

Tam

I grew up in Colorado where the air is very dry also, so I feel your pain. Here are two tips:

You can buy little bottles of saline solution made for your nose that will help keep you from getting so dry and getting bloody noses. You just squirt a little into your nostrils a few times a day. The saline also helped stop the sinus headaches I used to get as a result of breathing in all the dry air. Any pharmacy will have the "nose saline" for $1-$2 per bottle.

It might sound odd but you may find it helpful to smear a bit (A bit not a glob!) of vaseline inside of your nostrils to moisturize the tissue.

Hi all,
I know this is off topic but I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the suggestions. Yesterday I bought a humidifier and in just one day the nose bleeds are passe! I'm also going to have the nasel saline around.

On the good side, at least this experience has brought my water intake back up big time - I'm now consuming between 14-18 glasses of straight water a day!

Tam

Wow ... I live in Colorado now (moved from Texas where I grew up) and Texas is seriously humid (50%+) compared to here (10% regularly). But maybe you moved to West Texas ... I could understand that.

I have to keep lotion with me 24/7 and drink water like a fiend (I target 3-5 24oz bottles a day) and still am able to fit in my morning decaf and my afternoon diet rite.

Passing thru threads..and had to stop to say hello to a fellow texan! Howdy!!

How do you manage the water? I generally hate water, it tastes disgusting. Yes, all water makes me gag, except mineral water, which I can only get down 1 or 2 glasses.

M

Man can I relate!

When I moved from MD to CO, I had the same problem--plus about 6k feet higher altitude!

I drink about a gallon of water a day--I've got to use britta or some such for the taste, though... I keep it mostly, if not completely, non-carbonated and non-caffeinated, as well. I found a little fresh lemon or lime juice also helps and for a change, you can get lemon, lime and orange oils from a whole foods market--a drop or two in a tall glas of water (preferably chilled for me!) is nice, too.

Oh yeah, that gallon is assuming I'm inside most of the day--if I'm out in the hot sun--exercising or not--I need more.

One thing that's *really* nice about living in a dry climate during hot weather--rather than using an air conditioner (which generally dehumidifies!), you can get an evaporative cooler (aka "swamp cooler") that works by pulling the air through a wet filter-like material (you've got to leave windows open to give the air somewhere to go, btw). This helps filter and humidify the air along with cooling it quite nicely--and it's a heckuvalot cheaper to operate as well (think big fan with a pond fountain pump!). If you're gonna be staying in Texas, check out getting a swamp cooler to keep you comfy during the summer-and use a steam style humidifier in cold weather.

Once you get used to the higher amounts of water, you'll adjust somewhat, but don't stop drinking or you'll feel it! Some symptoms of dehydration include headache, listlessness, trouble sleeping, foggy brain, dry lips/hair/skin, that sunkin look around your eyes, even shortness of breath. If you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated; keep a water bottle on you (and sip often) at all times.

And if you can get one, a swamp cooler'll be the best thing you've bought in a long time!

Dianne
who's cooler just kicked on and who's headed for another liter of water--this time with a little low-calorie cranberry juice in it...

You may need more sodium and potassium, as well