Over 60? Thirsty yet? Then you should know the 2-hour rule!

graham-xrf

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HEALTH-TIP
I take this one more seriously than most "health advice" because it comes from 4th year medicine teaching, and not as part of a marketing operation.
Sent to me by a pal from PA. Paraphrased for us. Can it be true? It has that aura of fact of the un-spun variety!

Much of our community is comprised of active and retired professionals and industry folk. This is to pass along to friends and family. Something to get used to doing for yourself every two hours, about, or as best you can.

quote..
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Physician:
Whenever I teach clinical medicine to students in the fourth year of medicine, I ask the following question:

What are the causes of mental confusion in the elderly?

Some offer: "Tumors in the head". I answer: No!

Others suggest: "Early symptoms of Alzheimer's". I answer again: No!

With each rejection of their answers, their responses dry up.

And they are even more open-mouthed when I list the three most common causes:

- uncontrolled diabetes
- urinary infection
- dehydration

It may sound like a joke, but it isn't. People over 60 generally stop feeling thirsty and consequently stop drinking fluids.

When no one is around to remind them to drink fluids, they quickly dehydrate. Dehydration is severe and affects the entire body It may cause abrupt mental confusion, a drop in blood pressure, increased heart palpitations, angina (chest pain), coma and even death.

*This habit of forgetting to drink fluids begins at age 60, when we have just over 50% of the water we should have in our bodies. People over 60 have a lower water reserve. This is part of the natural aging process.*

But there are more complications. Although they are dehydrated, they don't feel like drinking water, because their internal balance mechanisms don't work very well.

*Conclusion:*

People over 60 years old dehydrate easily, not only because they have a smaller water supply, but also because they do not feel the lack of water in the body.

Although people over 60 may look healthy, the performance of reactions and chemical functions can damage their entire body.

So here are two alerts:

1) *Get into the habit of drinking liquids*. Liquids include water, juices, teas, coconut water, milk, soups, and water-rich fruits, such as watermelon, melon, peaches and pineapple; Orange and tangerine also work.

*The important thing is that, every two hours, you must drink some liquid. Remember this!*

2) Alert for family members: constantly offer fluids to people over 60. At the same time, observe them.

If you realize that they are rejecting liquids and, from one day to the next, they are irritable, breathless or display a lack of attention, these are almost certainly recurrent symptoms of dehydration.

Inspired to drink more water now?? Send this information out to others! DO IT NOW! Your friends and family need to know for themselves and help you to be healthier and happier.

It's good to share! *For people over 60*
 
Having watched parents and in-laws age through their 80s and 90s I can verify that your Dr. friend is correct.
 
I'm in my 70's and find all this information true from my own experience. A tip I use to keep tabs on my hydration is to note the color of my urine which I get many opportunities to do each day. Well hydrated equals clear to faint yellow. The more dehydrated you are the deeper the color becomes until it resembles iced tea (which is way too dehydrated). This method seems to work for me.
 
I believe that dehydration among the elderly is well known and understood by medical professionals, but often overlooked.
 
My wife and I are outside, even in the heat, on most days. Yesterday was 91, humid, and we were out cutting trees. The only way to survive is to preemptively hydrate. I'm fortunate in that if I'm outside too long she'll bring me a bottle of gatorade. I'd be in trouble without her.
 
Due to dehydration, UTIs are common in the elderly and confusion is an indication of this. Trying to get your parent to drink is difficult.
Pierre
 
I can verify the UTI issue. My MIL was confused and having issues standing up, etc. Turned out it was a UTI.
 
thank you for the enlightening post
i will spread the news
 
We SHOULD be peeing about every 2hrs, the darker the color, the more dehydrated you are. If you bend over, and take a couple of seconds, then stand up, and get a feeling of dizziness, you ARE dehydrated. The same goes for laying down, and standing up, then feeling dizzy. Postural hypotension, the heart rate, and blood pressure need to catch up to keep the brain circulated, the temporary dizziness is a short lack of blood flow.
A kinda abbreviated explanation.....
 
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