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Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30

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Despite the cold, drink water to avoid winter dehydration

Outdoor Chattanooga staff will host Winter Workshops on Thursdays, Jan. 18 to March 1. The free series offers classroom-based outdoor education and skill-building workshops.
Outdoor Chattanooga staff will host Winter Workshops on Thursdays, Jan. 18 to March 1. The free series offers classroom-based outdoor education and skill-building workshops. Outdoor Chattanooga staff will host Winter Workshops on Thursdays, Jan. 18 to March 1. The free series offers classroom-based outdoor education and skill-building workshops.

If you go

› What: Outdoor Chattanooga’s Winter Workshops› When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays Jan. 18 – March 1› Where: Outdoor Chattanooga in Coolidge Park, 200 River St.

Maybe you wouldn’t expect to become dehydrated going for a run or completing a fitness routine outside in the winter. It’s too cold. You’re not sweating.

You’d be wrong.

Moisture loss isn’t as noticeable in the winter because people don’t sweat nearly as much as they would during the summer months. But breathing dry winter air increases moisture loss through exhaling water vapor. So performing even normal, everyday activities during the winter can lead to mild dehydration.

Wintertime dehydration doesn’t happen often in this area, experts say, but it’s possible, and when it does most people don’t realize it because the obvious signs of dehydration in summer aren’t as apparent.