We’ve all heard from our doctors, therapists, coaches, trainers, and of course, our mothers, how important it is to drink water. When you’ve been outside working in the heat or exercising, it seems like a no-brainer to drink water to cool down. But did you know that as we age, we lose our sense of thirst? Between 20-30% of older adults are chronically dehydrated because of this. Therefore, drinking water and staying hydrated becomes more of a chore, and if the “chore” isn’t completed as it should be, dehydration can be very problematic, especially for seniors.
Why is dehydration more common in the older adult population?
Dehydration is a common cause of hospitalization in the elderly population. Typically, by the time an older person feels the need to drink water, they are already dehydrated. It is unknown why we lose the desire to drink water as we age. Plus, as we age, our body composition changes, and older adults actually carry a lower body fluid level than younger adults and children. Today, we will be discussing the importance of drinking water, signs and symptoms to look out for with dehydration, and how iMovePT can help with your health and wellness to help prevent dehydration complications in the future.
4 Ways Water Helps our Bodies
So why is it important to our body that we drink water? Here are four big reasons:
- Brain function: Sometimes older adults who are dehydrated show increased confusion, almost like someone with dementia. This happens because the cells of our brain don’t get the proper amount of fluid, therefore slowing down our ability to function at the highest level, increasing our confusion.
- Digestion: Drinking water during and after meals helps to break down food so the body can properly absorb the nutrients that our food carries. Water also helps prevent constipation because it is a natural stool softener.
- Nutrition: Water transports nutrients throughout the body and keeps the blood volumes normal. Having increased levels of fluid in the body improves the ability of the body to send nutrients and healing factors to different parts of our bodies that need them. So if the blood volume is low, the brain sends a signal to the body telling it to hold onto water. If the fluid levels are low in the body, it also decreases our blood pressure, which also reduces the blood flow needed to the muscles. Keeping your body hydrated helps move the blood more easily and keeps muscles working like they should, thus, reducing your risk of falling.
- Kidney function: Our kidneys are in charge of controlling the body’s fluid balance and filtering our blood by removing waste. As we age, much like many other things in our body, the functioning of our kidneys lowers, which decreases our body’s ability to remove that waste and create urine. Making sure we drink enough water helps to aid in keeping the kidneys functioning at their best.
Warning Signs of Dehydration
Now that you know what water does for your system, let’s talk about how to know when you or someone you love might need a tall glass of water.
Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration:
- Cracked lips and/or drier skin than normal
- Increased confusion
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness, especially with changing positions
- Sunken eyes
- Inability to sweat or produce tears
- Difficulty with everyday mobility
- Low blood pressure
- Increased heart rate that may feel rapid.