Drink Up This Summer: Dehydration is a Commonly Overlooked Health Risk for Seniors

Reusable water bottles are omnipresent. You see the latest style – whether a Stanley® cup, a YETI®, or a HydroFlask® – at the gym, at the grocery store, in the mall, and on the street. In fact, reusable water bottles now bring in about 10.5 billion dollars a year worldwide. 

However, it’s primarily young people who tote their own bottles. Not only is it more cost-effective than buying multiple bottles at the store per day, but it also limits your exposure to the microplastics in bottled water.

Should you join the refillable water bottle bandwagon, too? If you’re a senior, you have extra reasons to stay hydrated. In fact, dehydration is one of the lesser-known culprits for medical issues as we age. Older adults should drink approximately 1.7 liters (a bit over 7 cups) of water per day.

At Palm Desert Urgent Care, we urge you to take hydration seriously. As much as our expert doctor, Manzoor Kazi, MD, and our team love and appreciate seniors, we don’t want you to turn up at our practice dehydrated. Instead, we want to help you adopt new habits to keep your cells juicy and functional.

Why is dehydration such an issue for seniors? Below are a few reasons.

You don’t get as thirsty

Thirst is the first sign of dehydration. In fact, once you’re thirsty, your body is already slightly dehydrated. Unlike hunger pangs – which you can healthily ignore for a while – you should never overlook thirst cravings. In fact, drink enough, and you won’t have them at all.

Unfortunately, as you age, your thirst signals dim. In fact, you could be severely dehydrated and not feel a bit thirsty. That’s because aging changes certain physiological control systems connected with the sensations of thirst. So, don’t wait for thirst to kick in before you kick back that water, tea, or coffee. Fill up on healthy drinks throughout the day to stay hydrated.

You’re afraid of peeing

If you have trouble with urinary incontinence, you may avoid liquids. You don’t want to have to rush to get to the bathroom in time. If you’re a woman, you may try to control stress incontinence (i.e., that pee that leaks when you laugh, sneeze, or cough) by limiting your water intake.

If you’re incontinent, let us know. We may be able to help with physical therapy, hormone therapy, or medications. You can also wear discreet, specialized underwear that handles the “overflow.” We may also give you bladder training exercises so your body gradually learns to handle the amount of healthy liquids you need per day.

You forget

Even if you don’t have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, it’s difficult to develop and stick to a new habit. Try to attach your increased sips to habits that are already ingrained. For instance, be sure to have a tall glass of water right after you use the bathroom in the morning. Drink full glasses with each meal. 

Then, add your new habit to other lifestyle tweaks. If you take a daily walk to stay fit, tote your water bottle. If you go to the gym, bring your bottle there, too. Remember to take a drink after doing chores, sweating, swimming, or using a sauna or spa. You may have to drink more than you imagine to replace the water you lost through those activities.

You take medications or have medical conditions

Some medications can cause dehydration, especially if they’re diuretics. Diuretics are common in the cases of heart failure and high blood pressure. 

Illness, disease, and other medical conditions can also put you at risk for dehydration. Fever, infections, or diarrhea all call for extra fluids.

Seniors also may have trouble swallowing. If you feel like gagging when you swallow, let us know so that we can get you the help you need. 

Are you dehydrated?

Whether you’re trying to improve your own hydration or that of a parent or other loved one, knowing the signs of dehydration can help you remedy it before it becomes a problem. Remember, older people don’t feel much thirst, so asking them if they’re thirsty may not be helpful. Signs of dehydration include: 

• Dry mouth
• High blood pressure
• High heart rate
• Dizziness
• Infrequent urination
• Dark yellow urine
• Sunken eyes
• Fatigue/weakness
• Muscle cramps
• Constipation

Dehydration in seniors can be serious. The condition puts you at risk for:

• Falls due to weakness
• Kidney stones
• Kidney failure
• Loss of cognitive skills
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

If you or your loved one have signs of dehydration, come to urgent care right away so we can help you get the fluids you need. Come straight to our practice or phone us at 760-840-2984. If you’d like to book a physical exam. You can do it online, too.