One of the primary reasons seniors are prone to dehydration is our decreased sense of thirst. In addition, many of us experience a smaller appetite, limiting the amount of liquids we consume. Urinary incontinence, intestinal problems, fevers, or infections can also play roles in the loss of body fluids among the elderly.
The problem is that a dry/sticky mouth or thirst may not be an early warning sign. By the time we experience this warning, we might already be dehydrated. Complicating the situation further for our caregivers is the absence of some signs of dehydration in patients who may already have lacked fluids for days, weeks, months, or longer. For instance, disorientation can be confused for dementia, fatigue may be taken for overexertion or a medicinal side effect or just old age. For the caregiver with a wheelchair-bound adult, dizziness is difficult to perceive.
Some other symptoms of early or chronic dehydration are the following: pains in the joints and muscles, fever, weight loss, headache, dark yellow and odorous urine, reduced urine output, heart palpitations, low blood pressure, lack of skin elasticity, fainting, anger, impatience, depression, snoring, and insomnia. Extreme cases of dehydration may result in shock, and a comatose state could be observed in the individual. When these occur, or in cases where large volumes of liquids are lost over a period of time, hospitalization with IVs are administered to save the patient. Dehydration has no lasting effects, though untreated dehydration can lead to seizures or even brain damage.
Possible health problems associated with dehydration include asthma, allergies, bladder infections, heartburn, migraines, constipation, obesity, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, lower back pain, and Type II Diabetes. If you lose enough water to be seriously dehydrated, you also become deficient in electrolytes.
Remember, dehydration is preventable. Beware of diets or supplements, including laxatives and diuretics, that emphasize shedding “water weight.” This is not the same thing as losing actual fat. Drinking water does not add calories to your diet. In fact, simply drinking two 8-ounce glasses of water at the beginning of your meal will curb your appetite. In the short term, it also boosts calorie-burning.
So what can we do to keep healthy and hydrated? For most conditions of dehydration, simply drinking more water is the answer. People with normal heart and kidney functions should slowly increase their water intake. Hydration needs to occur over time, not by overloading your system. Too much water and too little sodium leads to a serious condition that swells the brain cells with water. The essential thing to remember is that a small glass every hour throughout the day is far more beneficial, enabling you to utilize the fluid appropriately instead of rejecting it through overload.
According to some experts, the amount of water your body should intake daily depends on your size (half of your body weight in ounces), your general health condition (medications taken), your physical activity level (perspiration output and increase of metabolism), and your environment (temperature and humidity levels inside or outside). Also considered on an individual basis how much water a person gets from their diet each day. At least 20% percent of the water you need comes from the foods you eat while the rest comes from your consumed beverages. The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake for men is roughly 13 cups of total beverages daily, with women at 9 cups of total beverages daily. Others say “drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids a day.”
Next Edition: Part 3: The Best Choice for Hydration and Electrolytes Restoration.
