From: unk...@googlegroups.com   
      
   Dehydration: A Danger Facing All Older Americans   
      
   By A Healthier Michigan - November 2, 2014   
      
      
      
   Why older adults need to stay hydrated   
      
   Many people classify dehydration as a relatively minor issue that can be   
   solved with a tall glass of water. But for older adults, that dry,   
   sticky-mouth feeling can become a real problem that can lead to serious   
   long-term effects.   
   So why are older adults more susceptible to dehydration?    
       
   It comes down to a few things: As you get older, your body starts to lose its   
   ability to conserve water. According to the Center for Nutrition Policy and   
   Promotion, this can be attributed to several different factors, including loss   
   in muscle mass and    
   less efficient kidney function. Additionally, as you age, your thirst sense   
   can become less acute and therefore you may not recognize that you aren't   
   drinking enough water. Add to that the fact that older adults happen to eat   
   and drink less and you have    
   a recipe for dehydration.   
      
   Unfortunately, while older adults are more likely to be dehydrated, they are   
   also more susceptible to the health complications that can arise from   
   dehydration. These can be serious, including seizures, brain swelling,   
   hypovolemic shock and even kidney    
   failure.   
      
   Dehydration can be prevented.     
   As serious as those health problems are, there are many ways you can be   
   proactive about combatting both dehydration and those scary long-term effects.   
   While the actual amount of water people need varies, a good rule of thumb is   
   still to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Doing so not only keeps   
   you hydrated, it also reduces the risk of fatal coronary heart disease.   
   Eat your water. Many fruits and vegetables are full of water--some are made up   
   of 90 percent H2O. Boost your hydration by eating watermelon, oranges, celery   
   and carrots. And try to eat more soup--broth is largely water.   
      
   Avoid alcohol and sodium, both of which can can contribute to your   
   dehydration. Sodium doesn't have to come out of a salt shaker--check out these   
   surprisingly high sources of it.   
      
   Set a timer on your phone or watch to go off every hour. When you hear the   
   beep, try to drink at least half a glass of water. This way you aren't relying   
   on thirst to remind you to drink.   
      
   Learn what to look for to tell if you're dehydrated. The best method is to   
   check the color of your urine. If it's dark, that is a pretty big sign that   
   you aren't drinking enough water.   
       
       
   Photo credit: Mike Atherton   
   Tagged WITH dehydration, elderly, Medicare, water   
      
      
   http://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2014/11/02/dehydration-a-dange   
   -facing-all-older-americans/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)