Dehydration is a common problem for older individuals, especially in the summer when temperatures soar. Water is a vital component of the human body, and even though its proportion in the body declines with age, its significance does not.
Our ability to feel thirst decreases with aging. As a result, thirst in an elderly person is an obvious symptom of dehydration. To prevent dehydration in the old and elderly, we must pay attention to other factors in addition to water consumption.
Degrees of dehydration in the elderly
Not all water shortages are equally severe. It can be more or less harmful depending on the severity of the deficit, the person’s age and health, and other factors. There are three stages of dehydration, as follows:
- Mild dehydration. The risk is low. They are typically this condition’s initial symptoms. It is pretty simple to reverse.
- Moderate dehydration. Although there are other causes for it to happen, such as pathologies, it typically manifests as a result of inaction in the face of a mild illness.
- Severe dehydration. Due to the severity of the symptoms and the body’s urgent need for hydration, medical attention is immediately required.
Causes of dehydration in older people
According to a study, dehydration is more common in elderly patients with infections, particularly pneumonia and urinary tract infections. In fact, a different study that was mentioned in the research found that 82% of elderly people with insufficient body water had an infection.
The study mentioned above found that the following are the most typical reasons for dehydration in older people:
- Decreased sodium and water in the body.
- Excessive urination
- Suprarrenal insufficiency.
- Renal waste of salt.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea.
- Excessive sweating
- Burns.
- Fever.
- Diabetes.
Risk factors in dehydration in the elderly
Being older already puts you at risk of not having enough water in your body because your fluid reserve is lower than it was when you were younger. The body frequently does not get enough water, which also reduces the sensation of thirst.
Consequences of dehydration in the elderly
For the body to work effectively, it needs to be hydrated. Elderly needs to exert a lot of force on their organs when they are dehydrated, and they gradually start to fail. Infection increases the likelihood that this failure will be fatal. In fact, according to the study referenced in this article, between 40% and 50% of elderly people with both an infection and dehydration die.
Treatment of dehydration in the elderly
How is dehydration treated? Drinking lots of water on a regular basis will help in moderate situations. Sports energy drinks contain the minerals your body loses throughout this process, so you can mix the water with them if you’ve lost any.
If the situation is critical, medical help is needed because it may be necessary to provide medicines or medications into a vein that hydrates the patient more quickly. Dehydration may also be the result of another illness, thus only a medical specialist can determine this.
