Warning Signals of Dehydration in Seniors

Warning Signals of Dehydration in Seniors

More than seventy percent of our body is made up of water. And it holds equally true that our body requires water no matter what. Interestingly, it is possible for an individual to survive without food, but not without water. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the signs of dehydration in seniors.  Some of the ways through which the human body loses water are urination, perspiration, and breathing.

According to Caringpeopleinc.com, a person suffers from dehydration when the intake of water is of such amount that it fails to meet up with the demands of the body. Though people of any age group can experience dehydration, it is the elderly who are more susceptible to such a problem.

Symptoms of Dehydration In the Elderly

Some of the warning signs of dehydration in seniors are irritability, fever, weight loss, low blood pressure, infections of the urinary tract and sunken eyes. Apart from these, some other indications include high frequency of infections, increased heart rate, Tachycardia, and constipation.

All of these symptoms should be considered with due diligence, as most of them could prove to be fatal in nature. The main reason behind dehydration being high among seniors is because of the thinner skin which occurs naturally as a person ages. The thinner the skin of a person, the greater the possibility of losing fluid. Another major and common reason for dehydration among seniors is because of medication.

How Medications Contribute to Dehydration

There are certain medicines which can cause you to dehydrate more than ever before. A recently conducted survey has established the fact that dehydration qualifies as one of the frequent causes of hospitalization among seniors aged more than 65 years. Worse still, reports suggest that one-half of all those seniors are hospitalized because of dehydration loss from their body within one year of getting admitted. As we age, a lower percentage of the body constitutes water, and so it is no wonder that the elderly become easily susceptible to dehydration.

Avoiding and Treating Dehydration

Fluid replacement can definitely be looked upon as an available treatment alternative for dehydration. Some of the options include soups, water, ice cream, milk, puddings, Gatorade, Pedialyte, and nutritional drink supplements. In fact, any type of replacement fluids which contain electrolytes can be considered helpful in effectively treating aged persons suffering from dehydration. A healthy intake of vegetables and fruits helps as most of them have a high amount of water content. Another good treatment option for dehydration among the elderly is to drink water in small amount all day long. It’s best to consume 24-32 ounces of water at a time. Also, it is necessary to limit fluid intake 1-2 hours before bedtime.

If you find that such available treatment techniques don’t help much, it is best to seek medical assistance and begin with the best available therapy without the least delay on your part.