23.12.28- 5 Serious MISTAKES That Can Lead to Dehydration in Seniors

Did you know that a third to half of all seniors are dehydrated? Scientific evidence points out that this is a serious and widespread problem, especially since dehydration in older adults can have dire consequences. In this article, we delve deeper into this issue and discuss 5 common misconceptions that cause dehydration in seniors.나이드신 분들의 1/3 에서 절반 정도가 수분부족이라는 것을 알고 계시나요? 이것은 특히 노인성인의 수분부족은 무서운 결과를 가져올수 있기때문에 심각하고 광범위한 문제라는것이 과학적인 증거가 보여주고 있다.  How Common Is Dehydration Among Seniors? According to the latest scientific estimates, up to 50% of all seniors are chronically dehydrated. With age, one’s ability to retain and hydrate all the cells in the body decreases, which means that older adults will be more susceptible to dehydration than younger adults.최근의 과학조사에 의하면 모든 노인의 50%정도는 만성적인 수분부족이라고 추정된다.  나이가 들면서 신체의 모든 세포가 수분을 유지하고 공급해주는 능력이 감소하게 되어 노인은 젊은 성인보다 보다 수면부족이 되기쉽다. Certain medications, such as diuretics and laxatives, as well as certain conditions, e.g. reduced kidney function, likewise make you lose water faster. All these factors increase the risk of dehydration in seniors and require them to pay closer attention to how much liquid they consume each day, especially since the health stakes of dehydration in older adults are much higher than those in younger people.이뇨제나 완화제같은 특정한 약물과 신장기능 저하와 같은 특정한 질환도 또한 수분손실을 더 빠르게 만든다. 이러한 모든 요인이 나이든 사람의 탈수위험을 증가시키기고 특히 노인의 수분부족으로 인한 건강상의 위험은 젊은사람들 보다 훨씬 높기때문에  매일 섭취하는 수분의 양에 더 많은 주의를 기울여야 한다 What Are the Dangers of Dehydration in Older Adults?  Not drinking enough can have serious repercussions on the health of seniors. Definitely, the most alarming issue is that of increased mortality and risk of serious impairment after stroke, with dehydrated patients being twice as likely not to survive and more than twice as likely to suffer impairment post-stroke than those who have adequate liquid intake.물을 충분히 마시지 않으면 나이든 사람들의 건강에 심각한 영향을 미칠수 있다. 명백하게 가장 걱정스러운 문제는 뇌졸증 후의 사망율과 심각한 장애의 위험이 증가하는것으로 수분부족환자는  적당히 섭취하는 환자보다 생존하지 못할 확률이 2배, 뇌졸증 후의 장애를 겪을 확률도 2배 이상이 높다는것이다 Apart from that, dehydration can make you feel more tired, weak and dizzy, which increases one’s risk of falls, and affect your cognitive functioning, namely memory, attention, and ability to concentrate. Other common harmful effects of dehydration include: * low blood pressure * decreased kidney health * constipation.Related Article: 11 Vital Health Reasons You Must Avoid Dehydration Needless to say, the consequences of dehydration in older adults are quite adverse. Luckily, it is possible to avoid these harmful effects by keeping up balanced fluid intake. Let's learn how you can avoid dehydration by looking at 5 common mistakes seniors make that can result in dehydration.  Mistake 1. Not Knowing How Much to Drink  Sometimes, it's very difficult to keep up with the latest recommendations, as some studies suggest that the 8 glasses of water a day rule is arbitrary, and others suggest you should drink a whole gallon of water daily. This is further complicated by different recommended liquid intakes per weight and age, turning daily needs into a matter of heated scientific debate. To make things simple, let's enunciate and stick to the most up-to-date medical recommendations: doctors currently advise senior women to drink 8 glasses of liquids per day, and elderly men should drink 10 glasses. You can also ask your health provider or family doctor if you have any health conditions or other factors that require a higher or lower daily liquid intake. Mistake 2. Assuming Liquids and Food Other Than Water Don't Count  If water is your preferred drink, there's nothing wrong with exclusively consuming water, but do keep in mind that, contrary to popular misconceptions, all liquids and even most foods will contribute to your daily liquid intake. Juices, milk, yogurts, tea, and coffee all consist primarily of water, so these will be just as hydrating for you as water. In one study, scientists compared hydration levels in participants who drank equal quantities of water and coffee and found that the group that drank only coffee was just as hydrated as those who only drank water. When trying to reach your daily liquid intake, don't forget about fruit and vegetables either, as some of these, such as watermelons, cucumbers, and strawberries, just to name a few, consist more than 90% of water. We even have an interactive article about the most hydrating fruit and veggies to give you some ideas, which you can access here: 16 Juicy Foods That Will Hydrate You Nearly as Well as Water Mistake 3. Believing One Can't Drink Enough Because of Certain Restrictions  Reaching a mature age can be accompanied by certain restrictions, some of which can limit your daily liquid intake, but they shouldn't. 노년기에 접어들면 특정한 제한사항이 있을 수 있는데 그 중에는 일일 수분 섭취량을 제한할수도 있는데 하지만 그렇게 하지 않아야 된다 A recent study that interviewed people past the age of 75 about the issues they face in maintaining proper hydration levels found, for example, that seniors often worry about losing bladder control, even if they don't suffer from incontinence, and this fear makes them avoid liquids.최근의 한 연구에서 75세가 지난 분들을 대상으로 적절한 수분섭취 수준을 유지하는데 대처하는 문제에 대해 인터뷰를 했는데 , 예를 들면 노인들은 요실금을 앓고 있지 않더라도 방광조절능력상실에 대해 걱정하는 경우가 많은것이 알려졌고 이런 두려움으로 인해 수분 섭취를 피하는것으로 나타났다  Patients suffering from chronic joint pain and swallowing difficulties likewise tend to drink less to avoid pain. While these issues may prompt patients to restrict their fluid intake, it's important to remember that avoiding dehydration is crucial for your health.  You can work together with your doctor and family to make accommodations that would free you of the stigma surrounding incontinence and reduce the pain you experience. Making the bathroom easily accessible, for example, can minimize the pain you experience when moving around. 당신은 주치의와 가족과 함께 요실금 징후에서 해방되고 통증을 겪게되는것을 줄일수 있는 환경을 만들기 위해 노력할수도 있다. 예를들면 화장실에 쉽게 접근할수 있도록 만들면 움직일때 경험하게되는 통증을 최소화할수 있다 Mistake 4. Only Drinking When Thirsty or Active  If you think you can only get dehydrated when it's hot outside, or when you spend time outdoors, think again. The truth is that you can even become dehydrated when you sleep or sit on the couch all day, as our body requires water to carry out all sorts of important chemical reactions and metabolic processes literally all the time. What further complicates the issue is that, as we age, our sense of thirst becomes less reliable than it was when we were young.  This is especially true in people who suffer from dementia, diabetes, or those who had a stroke since these conditions damage the nervous system and can dramatically worsen one's ability to experience thirst. That's why seniors or their caretakers should make a conscious decision to maintain an adequate liquid intake, even if it sometimes involves forcing yourself to drink.이것은 특히 치매, 당뇨병 또는 뇌졸증을 앓았던 사람은 더욱 그러한데 그 이유는 이런 질환으로 인해 신경체계가 손상되어 갈증을 느끼는 능력이 급격히 나빠질수 있기 때문이다. 이런 이유때문에 노인이나 보호자는 가끔 억지로라도 적당한 수분섭취를 위해 의식적인 결심을 해야 한다  Mistake 5. Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach If hydration is your goal, drinking plain water on an empty stomach is not so useful. This is because our body mainly absorbs the water together with electrolytes and other micronutrients, and pure drinking water has very little of those. According to a 2015 study, drinking milk or orange juice for breakfast was more hydrating than drinking plain water, for example. So, to maintain better fluid balance, it's best to jumpstart your day by eating a light breakfast with a glass of water on the side, or by enjoying a different drink, such as milk or juice, instead of just water.   Joke-Why I Carry My Bible  There was this Christian lady that had to do a lot of traveling for her business so she did a lot of flying. But flying made her nervous so she always took her Bible along with her to read and it helped relax her. One time she was sitting next to a man.  When he saw her pull out her Bible he gave a little chuckle and went back to what he was doing. After a while, he turned to her and asked: "You don't really believe all that stuff in there do you?" The lady replied "Of course I do. It is the Bible."  He said "Well what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale? She replied "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that, it is in the Bible."  He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?" The lady said "Well I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven I will ask him."  "What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically. "Then YOU can ask him." replied the lady.