TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I agree that there's no "one size fits all" amount of fluid intake that is
correct for every person. But we do need guidelines and rules of thumb to
help us determine what to do when our doctor is not right there to specify
something. We are never taught proper principles of hydration, even by the
doctors who are treating us for various ailments. A person can quench their
thirst with cola, but I doubt that's the right thing to do.
Our responsibility as technical writers is not only to provide the correct
information to people (as correct as we can discover it), but to provide
information that is important to the end user even when the experts don't
think we need to know it. Not one of the doctors I've ever consulted over my
lifetime has ever asked me if I'm drinking enough water.
--Beth
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-118812 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-118812 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]On Behalf Of Bruce
Evans
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 4:43 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: water intoxication (was RE: Carpal Tunnel)
Any minimum or maximum standard of fluid intake is rubbish. Our fluid
requirements are determined by our size, our activity, the ambient
temperature, our health and multiple other factors. The only true measure of
proper hydration in a healthy person is thirst. If you're thirsty, you need
to drink more, if you're not, you don't have to.
Water intoxication occurs only in abnormal states--either abnormal endocrine
disorders, rare brain disorders and major psychiatric illnesses. The sight
of hordes of healthy adults walking around with bottles of water only
strengthens the view that we've become a self-obsessed lot who haven't
outgrown the baby bottle.
==============================================
Bruce Evans M.D.
Family Physician and Technical Writer
"Never Underestimate the power of very stupid people in large numbers."
ROBOHELP X5: Featuring Word 2003 support, Content Management, Multi-Author
support, PDF and XML support and much more!
TRY IT TODAY at http://www.macromedia.com/go/techwrl
WEBWORKS FINALDRAFT: New! Document review system for Word and FrameMaker
authors. Automatic browser-based drafts with unlimited reviewers. Full
online discussions -- no Web server needed! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
