SetWave
Well-known Member
- Location
- Monterey Bay
A friend from school sent me this article and I thought I'd share:
By Arnaldo Liechtenstein, Physician
>
>
> Whenever I teach clinical medicine to students in the fourth year of
> medicine, I ask the following question:
>
> What are the causes of mental confusion in the elderly?
>
> Some offer: "Tumors in the head". I answer: No!
>
> Others suggest: "Early symptoms of Alzheimer's". I answer again: No!
>
> With each rejection of their answers, their responses dry up.
>
> And they are even more open-mouthed when I list the three most common causes:
>
> - uncontrolled diabetes
> - urinary infection
> - dehydration
>
> It may sound like a joke, but it isn't.
> People over 60 generally stop feeling thirsty and consequently stop
> drinking fluids.
>
> When no one is around to remind them to drink fluids, they quickly dehydrate.
> Dehydration is severe and affects the entire body It may cause abrupt
> mental confusion,
> a drop in blood pressure, increased heart palpitations, angina (chest
> pain), coma and even death.
>
> *This habit of forgetting to drink fluids begins at age 60, when we
> have just over 50% of the water we should have in our bodies. People
> over 60 have a lower water reserve. This is part of the natural aging
> process.*
>
> But there are more complications. Although they are dehydrated, they
> don't feel like drinking water, because their internal balance
> mechanisms don't work very well.
>
> *Conclusion:*
>
> People over 60 years old dehydrate easily, not only because they have
> a smaller water supply, but also because they do not feel the lack of
> water in the body.
>
> Although people over 60 may look healthy, the performance of reactions
> and chemical functions can damage their entire body.
>
> So here are two alerts:
>
> 1) *Get into the habit of drinking liquids*. Liquids include water,
> juices, teas, coconut water, milk, soups, and water-rich fruits, such
> as watermelon, melon, peaches and pineapple; Orange and tangerine
> also work.
>
> *The important thing is that, every two hours, you must drink some
> liquid. Remember this!*
>
> 2) Alert for family members: constantly offer fluids to people over
> 60. At the same time, observe them.
>
> If you realize that they are rejecting liquids and, from one day to
> the next, they are irritable, breathless or display a lack of
> attention, these are almost certainly recurrent symptoms of
> dehydration.
>
> Inspired to drink more water now? Send this information on to others!
> DO IT NOW! Your friends and family need to know for themselves and
> help you to be healthier and happier.
>
> It's good to share! *For people over 60*
By Arnaldo Liechtenstein, Physician
>
>
> Whenever I teach clinical medicine to students in the fourth year of
> medicine, I ask the following question:
>
> What are the causes of mental confusion in the elderly?
>
> Some offer: "Tumors in the head". I answer: No!
>
> Others suggest: "Early symptoms of Alzheimer's". I answer again: No!
>
> With each rejection of their answers, their responses dry up.
>
> And they are even more open-mouthed when I list the three most common causes:
>
> - uncontrolled diabetes
> - urinary infection
> - dehydration
>
> It may sound like a joke, but it isn't.
> People over 60 generally stop feeling thirsty and consequently stop
> drinking fluids.
>
> When no one is around to remind them to drink fluids, they quickly dehydrate.
> Dehydration is severe and affects the entire body It may cause abrupt
> mental confusion,
> a drop in blood pressure, increased heart palpitations, angina (chest
> pain), coma and even death.
>
> *This habit of forgetting to drink fluids begins at age 60, when we
> have just over 50% of the water we should have in our bodies. People
> over 60 have a lower water reserve. This is part of the natural aging
> process.*
>
> But there are more complications. Although they are dehydrated, they
> don't feel like drinking water, because their internal balance
> mechanisms don't work very well.
>
> *Conclusion:*
>
> People over 60 years old dehydrate easily, not only because they have
> a smaller water supply, but also because they do not feel the lack of
> water in the body.
>
> Although people over 60 may look healthy, the performance of reactions
> and chemical functions can damage their entire body.
>
> So here are two alerts:
>
> 1) *Get into the habit of drinking liquids*. Liquids include water,
> juices, teas, coconut water, milk, soups, and water-rich fruits, such
> as watermelon, melon, peaches and pineapple; Orange and tangerine
> also work.
>
> *The important thing is that, every two hours, you must drink some
> liquid. Remember this!*
>
> 2) Alert for family members: constantly offer fluids to people over
> 60. At the same time, observe them.
>
> If you realize that they are rejecting liquids and, from one day to
> the next, they are irritable, breathless or display a lack of
> attention, these are almost certainly recurrent symptoms of
> dehydration.
>
> Inspired to drink more water now? Send this information on to others!
> DO IT NOW! Your friends and family need to know for themselves and
> help you to be healthier and happier.
>
> It's good to share! *For people over 60*
