DEAR DR. GOTT:
Your recent response about fainting, weakness and lightheadedness was incomplete. Very often fainting is caused by dehydration and the cure is simply the intake of water. This will save a lot of worries and expensive testing. Dehydration can occur most often in the dryer climates of the United States, primarily to people who just moved there. The elderly seem particularly susceptible since they may be unaware of the powers of the sun and humidity without proper hydration.
DEAR READER:
Sometimes the simplest solutions are best. While I attempted to cover all possibilities, I failed to step back and “kiss” — Keep It Simple, Stupid! Thank you for suggesting this remedy that will likely help some individuals.
Drinks such as Gatorade that contain electrolytes might be beneficial for faster recuperation. I must stress, however, that if symptoms fail to disappear rapidly, medical intervention is critical.
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