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With the official end of summer less than two weeks away, medical experts are encouraging Coloradans to keep drinking water, not just to beat the heat but to safeguard their heart health.

Dr. Minisha Kochar, cardiologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, said the water you drink makes its way into your blood, and when you are dehydrated, your blood actually becomes thicker.

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"If you don’t have adequate blood volume, your heart has to work a lot harder to pump blood," Kochar explained. "By pumping harder it increases the demand for oxygen, and puts more stress on your heart."

The amount of water needed to stay hydrated varies between people, but on average, aim to drink around eight cups per day. Take sips throughout the day, instead of gulping large amounts of water at a time, which can put stress on your kidneys.

Drinking too much water without replenishing electrolytes can be dangerous. Kochar noted the average American diet comes with plenty of electrolytes. But if you’ve been sweating and have not eaten anything in a while, a pretzel or salt tablet should do the trick. Limiting beverages acting as diuretics, which cause your body’s cells to release fluids, can also help you stay hydrated.

"Caffeinated beverages and alcoholic beverages cause your body to lose more fluid," Kochar emphasized. "By limiting the amount of caffeine and alcohol in the day, you’re not fighting with having to hydrate more."

If possible, Kochar recommended limiting the time you spend outside, especially when the Colorado sun is high in the sky, typically between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Being outside in excessive heat creates stress throughout your body.

"Your body has to make all the organs function more efficiently; the liver, the kidneys, the heart," Kochar outlined. "If you’re not well hydrated, you’re going to suffer heat stroke a lot quicker and have a lower threshold to go into heat stroke."