Many retirees envision their long-awaited summer months bringing them to the beach, family picnics outdoors, and at the pool. As temperatures soar, warm weather activities can increase the chances of you getting dehydration, or worse, a heat stroke. Having fun outdoors can make you forget to drink enough fluids, so here’s how you can remind yourself to stay hydrated.
Aging and Dehydration
Did you know that older individuals are more vulnerable to electrolyte and fluid imbalances? Everyone’s body has a natural defense system against dehydration or feeling thirsty. Typically, you can drink to your thirst although there are recommended guidelines of how much to drink each day according to your body mass. As you age, this signal that lets your body know your thirst gets dulled and diminishes over time. When your body needs water, older individuals may not even realize this because they don’t get the feeling of thirst as much due to age. Certain medical conditions and medications can also affect one’s ability to retain fluids, making them more susceptible to dehydration. What makes this worse is if that individual also experiences incontinence as they would often limit or refuse fluids to prevent accidents.
Symptoms of Dehydration
If severe dehydration goes unchecked, it could cause seizures due to an electrolyte imbalance, kidney failure, heat injuries, a reduction in the volume of blood, and even coma or death. This is why it is so important for older adults to be able to recognize the symptoms of dehydration:
- Cold hands and feet
- Weak pulse
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Irritability, confusion, or dizziness
- Dry skin that stays folded when pinched
- Dark or amber-colored urine
- Little to no urination
If you experience any of these symptoms below, do consult a doctor immediately:
- Bloody or black stool
- Inability to keep fluids down
- Sleepier than usual
- Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts longer than 24 hours
Ways to Stay Hydrated
Here are some ways you can ensure your body stays hydrated at all times:
- Drink water – As simple as it sounds, the first thing many people grab as soon as they feel thirsty is soda, tea, sweet beverages, and even coffee. However, most of these only increase your dehydration.
- Set reminders – If you’re someone who doesn’t feel thirsty often, why not try setting reminders for yourself? You can make sure you drink a certain amount of water each time the alarm goes off. Drinking consistently throughout the day is the best way to prevent dehydration.
- Improve your diet – If you find drinking water consistently too challenging, you can switch up your diet by adding in more fruits and vegetables with high water content to it.
Why Choose Morada Meadow Lakes?
We provide an enjoyable and relaxing retirement community experience for all of our residents. You simply have to visit Morada Meadow Lakes and see what an enjoyable and comfortable lifestyle you can enjoy at the best price!
If you have any other inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us today or schedule a tour to experience our retirement community for yourself.
