One of the biggest issues that our elderly face is that as they get old they don’t take in as much water as needed. Now there are several factors in play that keep them from staying properly hydrated.
Many people as they age lose their sense of thirst. This is often caused by a few different reasons from kidney functions to changes in hormone levels. Whatever the reason is. The problem that our elderly population is dehydrated looms over us. Now our sense of thirst diminishes as we age. So we often don’t feel as thirsty as we did when we were young.
Yet we also have medications that deaden our sense of thirst. some common medications are Laxatives, Type 2 Diabetic Medication, Excedrin Migraine, some high blood pressure medicine, some Diuretics, Chemotherapy drugs, lithium, and antidepressants. Those are just some of the drugs that can cause a person to become dehydrated.
Many times if you have a chronic illness you can become dehydrated. That is because many of the medications that some of these illnesses cause you to become dehydrated. Kidney problems can also upset our need to drink water even when we actually do need to drink more.
Then there is the change of hormones in your system. These may be from medication too or it might be that your body is just producing too much or not enough. Now many of these problems are actually associated with women yet most women live longer than men so it would stand to reason that hormonal problems would cause our elderly ladies to need to drink more water but they don’t.
Another issue that our elderly folks face is that they aren’t as mobile as they were when they were in their 40s so they simply don’t work up a thirst as often nor do they get up and go get a drink as much. So they lose more water than they take in.
People as they age may also face a cognitive problem that will keep them from even remembering that they are thirsty. So they often need to have a companion care service or family member there to remind them to drink a glass of water.
You also have the environment and season to look at. In the winter here in Western Oklahoma we often have very dry air so we are often needing to drink more water than when in the summer. Yet those hot summer days can wick away a lot of moisture from our bodies too.
Signs of dehydration
Since we are talking about dehydration in people it is good to go ahead and talk about what to look for to be able to tell if you or a loved one actually needs to increase their fluid intake. There are several different signs you can look for to see if your loved one is lacking adequate water.
Headache
If your loved one is suffering from frequent headaches one of the causes could be a lack of water. Headaches are a common symptom of dehydration, which can occur when you don’t drink enough fluids or lose fluids through sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. When you’re dehydrated, your body loses water and electrolytes, which can cause your brain to shrink slightly and pull away from the skull. This triggers pain receptors in the brain, leading to a headache.
In addition to dehydration, there are other possible causes of headaches when you are thirsty. For example, if you consume large amounts of sugary or caffeinated beverages to quench your thirst, this can cause a headache due to the sudden spike and subsequent drop in blood sugar levels.
It’s important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent headaches and other symptoms of dehydration. If you experience frequent headaches, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
Nausea
Dehydration can cause nausea for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that when you’re dehydrated, the body can’t remove waste products effectively, leading to an accumulation of toxins in the blood. This buildup of toxins can irritate the lining of the stomach, leading to nausea.
Dehydration can also cause a decrease in blood volume and blood pressure, which can affect blood flow to the digestive system. This can cause the stomach to become more sensitive and reactive, leading to feelings of nausea and even vomiting.
Additionally, when you’re dehydrated, the body may produce more stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause gastrointestinal distress, including nausea.
Dizziness
Dehydration can make you feel dizzy for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that when you’re dehydrated, the body has a decreased volume of blood circulating through the body, which can cause a drop in blood pressure. This drop in blood pressure can reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the brain, leading to dizziness and lightheadedness.
Additionally, dehydration can cause an electrolyte imbalance in the body, particularly a decrease in sodium and potassium levels. These electrolytes play an important role in regulating the fluid balance in the body, and when they become imbalanced, it can affect the function of the nervous system and cause dizziness.
Dehydration can also cause a decrease in blood volume, which can affect blood flow to the brain, leading to dizziness and even fainting.
Confusion or disorientation
As with being dizzy, our brains are predominantly comprised of water. When that lever starts to drop we lose much of our functionality. This is another reason for the feeling of dizziness and nausea. When dehydration gets to be severe you start to lose the ability to concentrate and your thoughts can become jumbled. The electrolytes of sodium and potassium both are needed for proper brain function and when you are dehydrated your electrolytes are also out of whack. They become either too concentrated or too thinned out.
Dry mouth
If your loved one has a very dry mouth this could be a good sign that they are dehydrated. This also causes them to have higher tooth decay rates. So it is good to have plenty of water to drink.
Loose skin or skin that doesn’t return to normal after pinching
If your loved ones’ skin is loose and it doesn’t snap back as fast as it does normally then that is a good sign that they do not have enough water. Lack of fluids has many other symptoms too including…
- Urinating less than usual
- Dark Urine
- Constipation
- Muscle cramping
- Fast heart rate
- Drop in blood pressure
- Tired or fatigued
One innovative solution
Now one subset of people that really struggle with not getting enough fluids in them are people who have dementia or Alzheimers. Many people believe that is because they simply forget that they are thirsty and simply go on with their life not knowing that they are missing an important part of living. Which is drinking plenty of fluids. Because of this one man named Lewis Hornsby saw this firsthand with his grandmother struggling to take in enough fluids. So he came up with an interesting angle. many dementia patients may forget to drink but if they come across a strong-flavored food they are drawn to it. So Lewis made a treat that is 95% water that has all the electrolytes one needs and is sugar-free but it doesn’t have Sorbital in it so you won’t have to worry about the laxative effect. Each tray contains 300 ml of water which is great!
For more information please head to Jelly Drops website