Study: Mild Dehydration Can Impair Mental Process

Was it hard to concentrate during that long meeting? Or, does the crossword seem a little tougher? You could be mildly dehydrated.

A growing body of evidence finds that being just a little dehydrated is tied to a range of subtle effects — from mood changes to muddled thinking.
"We find that when people are mildly dehydrated they really don't do as well on tasks that require complex processing or on tasks that require a lot of their attention," says Mindy Millard-Stafford, director of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology. She published an analysis of the evidence this month, based on 33 studies.

How long does it take to become mildly dehydrated in the summer heat? Not long at all, studies show, especially when you exercise outdoors.

"If I were hiking at moderate intensity for one hour, I could reach about 1.5 percent to 2 percent dehydration," says Doug Casa, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut, and CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute.

For an average-size person, 2 percent dehydration equates to sweating out about a liter of water.

"Most people don't realize how high their sweat rate is in the heat," Casa says. If you're going hard during a run, you can reach that level of dehydration in about 30 minutes.

And, at this level of dehydration the feeling of thirst, for many of us, is only just beginning to kick in. "Most people can't perceive that they're 1.5 percent dehydrated," Casa says.

But, already, there are subtle — maybe even imperceptible — effects on our bodies and our mental performance.

Take, for example, the findings from a recent study of young, healthy and active women who agreed to take a bunch of cognitive tests, and also agreed to restrict their fluid intake to no more than six ounces for one day.

"We did manage to dehydrate them by [about] 1 percent just by telling them not to drink for the day," says Nina Stachenfeld of the Yale School of Medicine and the John B. Pierce Laboratory, who led the research.

The women took one test designed to measure cognitive flexibility. It's a card game that requires a lot of attention, since the rules keep changing throughout the game.

"When the women were dehydrated they had about 12 percent more total errors" in the game, says Stachenfeld.

She repeated the tests after the women drank sufficient water, and their performance improved. "We were able to improve executive function back to normal — in other words-- back to the baseline day — when they rehydrated," the scientist says.

Dehydration didn't hamper performance on all the tests; the women's reaction time, for example was not impeded. The decline was seen during the complicated tasks.

Though the study was small, and funded by PepsiCo, which sells bottled water, Stachenfeld designed the methods and completed the analysis independently. And other scientists say her findings fit with a growing body of independent evidence that points to similar conclusions.

"I absolutely think there could be big implications of having a mild cognitive deficiency with small amounts of dehydration," Casa says.

If you're a student, for example, a 12 percent increase in errors on a test might matter. And whether you're a pilot, a soldier, a surgeon or a scholar, many daily tasks depend on the ability to be precise and pay attention.

For anyone trying to do their best work, the findings raise a number of questions:

How much water do we need?

There are no exact daily requirements, but there are general recommendations.

A panel of scholars convened several years ago by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concluded that women should consume, on average, about 91 ounces of total water per day. For men, the suggested level is even higher (125 ounces).

Note that this total includes water from all sources, including food and other beverages, such as coffee and tea. Typically, people get about 20 percent of the water they need daily from fruits, vegetables and other food.

Also, water needs vary from person to person. For example, body weight and muscle mass matter. Also, physical activity and heat exposure can increase the amount of fluid a person needs.

How can you tell if you're dehydrated?

One easy test: The color of your urine is a good guide. As a general rule of thumb, the darker the color, the more likely you are to be dehydrated. Aim for shades that have been described as "pale lemonade" or "straw." A color chart developed by physiologist and University of Connecticut professor Lawrence Armstrong can be a helpful guide, researchers say.

Are older people more vulnerable to dehydration?

As we age, we're not as good at recognizing thirst. And there's evidence that older adults are prone to the same dips in mental sharpness as anyone else when mildly dehydrated.

Don't wait until you're thirsty. A good rule of thumb is to sip fluids throughout the day. No need to chug huge amounts at one time; there are some risks to overhydrating, too.

Can coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks have a dehydrating effect?

The most recent evidence finds that coffee provides similar hydrating qualities to water. In other words, yes, your morning cup of joe — or whatever caffeinated beverage you fancy, can help to keep you hydrated.

Experts Say Tap Water Good as Filtered Bottled Varieties

In pursuit of being able to drink the best kind of water they can on a regular basis, people have taken to purchasing all kinds of bottled water and using filters, but some experts say that tap water is just as good.

NPR interviewed different experts and ask about how tap water stacked up to the other options available.

First off, Dan Heil, a professor of health and human performance at Montana State University said that as long as the tap water flowing into people's homes meets all the health and safety standards, then it should be "perfectly fine."

Heil believes that with the prevalence of other options, the tap has become "underrated" in terms of being a source of healthy water.

Stuart Batterman, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan, added that "In general, the drinking water quality in the U.S. is very good."

Water made available to U.S. residents via the tap is monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency has set up thresholds for the amount of chemicals, microorganisms and other contaminants in the water.

When discussing how filters can improve the tap water people are drinking, the experts said that they don't actually do that much.

Tanis Fenton, a registered dietitian and epidemiologist at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, said that filters can't do much to make people any safer because they "don't do anything" to weed out the amoeba, bacteria and viruses that could contaminate the water.

Neil Ward, an analytical chemistry professor at the University of Surrey in the U.K., even noted that drinking over-purified water could potentially be bad for people because they could have a reaction the next time they drink water that is not purified to the same degree.

Chief technical officer for the water filter company Mitte, Faebian Bastiman, said, however, that having a filter could protect people if there is something unsafe that has grown in the water pipes.

Batterman added that the systems operated by water utilities already feature disinfectants designed to prevent microbial growth.

The CDC noted that drinking water helps keep a person's body temperature normal, while also providing lubrication for the joints. Sensitive tissues and even the spinal cord can also be protected better by consuming water.

Water also helps people expel the waste buildup in their bodies in a variety of ways.

BMW to Raise Prices of U.S.-Made SUVs in Response to Tariffs

BEIJING (Reuters) - German carmaker BMW said it will raise the prices of two U.S.-made crossover sport-utility vehicles in China to cope with the additional cost of tariffs on U.S. car imports into the world’s biggest auto market. 

FILE PHOTO: The BMW logo is seen on a vehicle at the New York Auto Show in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

In a move due to take effect on Monday, BMW said in a statement to Reuters over the weekend that it will increase maker-suggested retail prices of the popular, relatively high-margin X5 and X6 SUV models by 4 percent to 7 percent. 

The rates of increase suggest that BMW is willing to absorb much of the higher costs stemming from bringing the SUVs to China from its factory in South Carolina, underscoring the fierce competition among luxury car brands in China. 

BMW’s move comes after China imposed new tariffs earlier this month on about $34 billion of U.S. imports, from soybeans and cars to lobsters, as part of a widening trade row. 

Beijing, which this year cut tariffs on all automobiles imported into China, slapped an additional 25 percent levy on U.S.-made cars as of July 6. As a result, China now levies a 40 percent import duty on all cars imported from the United States. 

“BMW stands for free (trade) but can’t stand still without taking actions to respond to the market changes,” a BMW spokeswoman said in an email message to Reuters. 

BMW imports X4, X5 and X6 crossover SUV models from the United States for sale in China where demand for SUVs has been booming. Last year, the German automaker shipped more than 100,000 vehicles from the United States to China. 

The company made no reference to pricing of its X4 model.

Planned Parenthood Sues S.C. Over Medicaid Abortion Plan

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Planned Parenthood says it is suing to try to get a judge to overturn South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster's order that it couldn't provide services under the state Medicaid health plan.

Planned Parenthood says that decision means thousands of poor women on Medicaid won't be able to get pelvic exams, birth control or testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

The organization said in a statement that McMaster is breaking federal law because it allows Medicaid patients to visit any provider that accepts the program.

McMaster's order banned any group that performs abortions from being a Medicaid provider in South Carolina.

McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes says McMaster will fight the lawsuit as hard as he can because he doesn't think taxpayer money should go to anyone who provides abortions.

Council to Consider Allowing Sunday Alcohol at Events

Anderson County Council will consider allowing alcohol sales on Sunday by organizations hosting events at the Anderson Civic Center and other locations around the county as part of a special called meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the historic courthouse downtown.

Council will also consider allowing voters to decide on a countywide two percent hospitality tax with a non-binding referendum in November. (The Observer favors the hospitality tax, but opposes putting it to referendum. Read more on the issue here.)

Brown/Kings Road Intersection to Close for Construction Aug. 22

Expect delays at the intersection of Brown Road and Kings Road beginning Aug. 22, as the South Carolina Department of Transportation and S&S Construction begin work on the site.

SCOOT will close Kings Road fom the intersection with Brown Road to McClellan Road. This section of Kings Road is mostly residential, but businesses along the route may have full access to their properties. The SCDOT and S & S Construction Inc. of Anderson will maintain access for the prope1ties within the road closure.

A detour will be posted guiding traffic from Kings Road, to the East West Parkway, to Concord Rd, then to Brown Road, a distance of approximately 5.6 miles.

Construction on the intersection is expected to be completed Sept. 21. Questions about the project should be addressed to Resident Construction Engineer Mike McKenzie at 864-716-2380.

Missing Anderson Teenager Found Safe

Update: Aliston found safe Friday morning.

Anderson County Sheriff's Deputies are currently searching the area of Pearman Dairy Road and Charlie Road near Carpenter's Church for 15-year-old Mi-son Yasear Allston, who reportedly has autism but is high-functionting.

The active search was called off for the day around 1:45 a.m. this morning. Deputies said K-9s were used, but they were not able to pick up a trail. 

Mi-son was last seen at approximately 7:15 p.m. Thursday on Perman Dairy Rd. He was wearing a pink Nike hoodie, black jeans, and blue and white Jordan sneakers. He is an African-American male with short black hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 175 pounds.

If you see this young man, please immediately call 911 and report his location.

Crescent Football Using Smart Helmets to Monitor Impact

Crescent High School's football program has started using the new Riddell’s InSite smart helmet technology, that now includes InSite Training Tool (ITT). ITT is Riddell’s latest innovation in head impact monitoring technology and will now offer the Tigers the unique opportunity to use a sabermetric approach to athlete protection.

Riddell’s ITT technology is a web-based data center that builds player impact profiles, rich with information, that a coach may use to identify opportunities. These then can be used to proactively influence player behavior and reduce exposure to impacts through improved training techniques and practice plans. 

“Now, more than ever, it’s our responsibility as football coaches, trainers and administrators, that we embrace new technological advances that enable us to proactively protect our athletes, making sure they can continue to enjoy the game of football,” said Jeff Craft, Crescent High School Athletic Director.

“Having the support of our Board of Education and Superintendent was monumental in our purchase of Riddell’s InSite Training Tool, and with that we are following through on our commitment, offering our staff and players real and useful data that we believe will continue to make the game smarter.”

ITT is backed by millions of on-field impacts dating back to 2003. It uses InSite-equipped smart helmets to not only monitor and alert the sideline to significant impacts, but also to collect, consolidate and analyze nearly every head impact to learn and track specific behaviors by player, unit or team. The technology provides intelligence that can assist coaches and staffs in improving the game, keeping Crescent High School athletes’ protection their number one priority. 

The Tigers began using the new helmets during  Spring practice period and will wear them in the upcoming Fall season.

Blood Test Could Replace CT Scan in Some Head Injuries

July 26 (UPI) -- Researchers have developed a blood test than allows some patients suspected of a heady injury to avoid a costly CT scan and exposure to radiation.

A diagnostic blood test developed by Banyan Biomarkers Inc. successfully ruled out the need for a head CT scan in a study of patients 18 years and older with suspected traumatic brain injuries. Findings from a study conducted at the Wayne State University School of Medicine were published Tuesday in The Lancet Neurology. 

Each year, about 2.5 million people go to the emergency department with suspected TBI and 282,000 are hospitalized with an injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of them are concussions, including many among athletes -- though the agency notes that falls are the greatest cause for TBIs, and they make up nearly half of TBI injuries.

"This study is exciting for a few reasons," Dr. Robert Welch, a professor of emergency medicine at Wayne State, said in a press release. "Our results were the basis for the first FDA approved blood biomarker panel that will aid in the diagnosis and care of patients with mild TBI."

Soon after a brain injury, two biomarkers -- Ubiquitin Carboxy-terminal Hydrolase-L1 and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein -- are detected in the blood.

The blood test correctly identified 99.6 percent of patients who did not have a TBI on head CT scans in 1,959 adults presenting emergency departments in the United States and Europe between December 2012 and March 2014. For just three patients, the CT scan was positive after a negative result on the blood test.

Study: Wofford Grads Get Top Pay for Small S.C. Colleges

Graduates of Wofford College make more money, on average, than those from any other small college in South Carolina, a new study found. 

The average wage of Wofford alumni is $58,100 per year, according to the study published by careers website Zippia. Compared to other states, Wofford was in the upper-middle part of the pack, but still far behind the highest-earning school, University of Maryland-Baltimore, where graduates earn an average of $102,900 per year, according to the study.

Last year, Zippia released a similar study that included larger universities and found Clemson alumni had the highest average wages in the state, earning an average of $48,950 per year. 

Zippia conducted the study by comparing data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard that showed the average wage of each college’s graduates 10 years after graduation. The study included only four-year institutions and did not factor in community colleges.

Though the study says Wofford alumni are the highest paid, they’re not the most likely to get jobs. That distinction goes to graduates of The Citadel, according to another recent report from Zippia.

But the high earnings don’t come for free. Before scholarships or other financial aid, the sticker price for an education at Wofford — a private school located in Spartanburg — is $56,530 per year, according to the website.

S.C. Prisons to Test Jamming Cell Phone Equipment

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina prison officials say they will test equipment that can jam cellphone signals for inmates using contraband phones next month.

But state Corrections Director Bryan Stirling on Thursday told a committee of lawmakers reviewing spending on permanent projects that technology isn't the only thing he needs.

Stirling is installing 50-foot (15-meter) high netting to prevent drugs, phones and other contraband from being thrown over fences and hopes it is high enough to stop T-shirt guns too.

Stirling says he needs money to install systems that can detect radio signals used by drones because people outside can now fly them right over the fence to an individual prisoner.

The jamming equipment will be tested at Lee Correctional Institution, where seven inmates died in a riot in April.

S.C. Awaits Test Results on Uranium Leak Near Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Federal regulators say radioactive uranium has leaked through the floor of a nuclear fuel plant in South Carolina but state health officials say they don't think the material has threatened water supplies.

The State newspaper reported the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the material leaked through a 3-inch (8-centimeter) hole in the concrete floor where acid is used at the Westinghouse plant south of Columbia. The NRC learned of the leak July 12 and says the hole is 6 feet (2 meters) deep.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control says there's no reason to think the uranium has moved away from the plant or threatens water supplies. But the agency is awaiting groundwater tests on the Westinghouse property.

School District Five Program Melts Snow Day Problems

Thanks to to a pilot program, Anderson School District 5 students may not be quite as excited about snow days this year.

The school district has been chosen as the first eLearning program site in South Carolina, a program aimed at continuing classroom instruction on days when inclimate weather, power outages or other factors prevent the district from holding a traditional school day. 

The eLearning Day will be announced through local media and the district's website on such days, and students will be required to use their Chromebooks to access their electronic assignments through Google Classroom. Google allows teachers to provide lessons, resources and support for students remotely, while students are able to submit assignments through the program. Internet connectivity is not required, since the lessons are preloaded for this program as part of the regular lesson schedule.

"We have made a significant investment into not only our technology here in Anderson 5, but also our people," said Anderson County School District 5 Superintendent Tom Wilson. "I think we are well suited to carry out this program next school year.”

Wilson said the program will allow the district to avoid the scheduling challenges traditionally posed by finding suitable time for makeup days.

The district has investedmore than $11 million in Chromebooks over the past five years, and has expanded staffto include digital integration specialists in all schools.  

“At the end of the day, it makes common sense and financial sense to implement this program,” Wilson said. "No longer will we need to run buses in mid-June for a makeup day that only a quarter of our students attend. We have the resources in Anderson 5, and doing this allows us to utilize those resources to their fullest extent.”