Frostbite and hypothermia are not the only health hazards associated with frigidly cold temperatures reports the medical news agency Newswise. Cold weather studies at the University of New Hampshire show increased risk for dehydration, a condition more commonly associated with hot weather.

“People just don’t feel as thirsty when the weather is cold,” says Robert Kenefick, UNH associate professor of kinesiology. “When they don’t feel thirsty, they don’t drink as much, and this can cause dehydration.”

The body is about two-thirds water, and when the total water level drops by only a few percent, we can become dehydrated. Kenefick says fluid deficits of 3 to 8 percent of body mass have been reported in individuals working in cold environments, and dehydration is a major problem with exercise in the cold. His recent study, published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, shows that cold actually alters thirst sensation.

Kenefick offers the same advice he tenders during the heat : Drink plenty of water, especially when exercising or working outdoors. A good way to monitor proper hydration is to examine urine output – the colour should be nearly clear or straw coloured.