Drink water and be merry.

Spring is in the air, and the warm weather is finally here! (or should be here by now). It feels good to be out and about, doing all those fun things we couldn’t do during the winter. The warmer weather creates a greater need to maintain good hydration. Water is the most important molecule in every biological process, and essential to human life. There are approximately 300 deaths each year in the USA due to complications of dehydration.

According to the UN secretary general, “there is nothing more fundamental to life than water.”

Although water is essential for life, a lot of people underestimate its importance, and drink less than what is required to maintain good health. Drinking less than what the body requires can lead to dehydration and poor overall health. Dehydration can happen to anyone, but it’s more common in seniors or those with handicaps. To promote good health, it’s important to avoid dehydration, not only for ourselves, but also for our loved ones who may be at risk.

What is proper hydration?

   The basic and most popular rule on proper hydration is to drink 8 eight ounce cups of water a day. This rule is easy to remember, and can be used as a baseline hydration target for most adults. According to the Institute of Medicine, a slightly higher amount of fluid intake is recommended. Their research has shown that an adequate intake for adult men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The adequate intake for adult women is about 9 cups of total beverages a day. It should be noted that the adequate intake measurement takes into consideration all sources of water, including the fluids in the meals we eat.

It is generally recommended to drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day.

How do you know you are drinking enough water?
Dehydration has multiple symptoms that may not be easy to identify, therefore it’s important to know these symptoms, so that you may quickly identify and correct them.

Signs and symptoms of mild dehydration include:

• dark, concentrated urine
• thirst
• decreased urination
• Lightheadedness / dizziness
• Headache

Dehydration can progress and become severe if not managed, and its signs and symptoms include: tenting of the skin (the skin remains raised after being lightly pinched), severe thirst, confusion, low blood pressure, and lack of urination or sweat. Untreated severe dehydration, although rarely seen, may be fatal.
The thirst response may decrease as individuals get older, and those with handicaps may not be able to communicate their sensation of thirst, therefore a caregiver should practice more vigilance in identifying and preventing dehydration. Individuals on tube feedings, such as PEG tubes, G-tubes, or Naso-gastric tubes also have a higher risk for dehydration, and require water in between their tube feedings. An easily identifiable and reliable sign of dehydration to look out for is dark, concentrated urine.

Other factors to consider.

   The amount of water the body requires can vary based on additional factors such as the weather, amount of exercise, general health, the medications we take, and/or exposure to foods that lead to increased water loss such as alcohol or caffeine. More water is not always better for you. Some medical conditions, such as heart or kidney disease may reduce our daily water intake requirements. It is therefore important to discuss fluid intake with your physician if you have any health issues.

For more health tips, visit our blog at www.greaterhomecare.com/non-medical-home-care-blog and to learn more about our services, call Greater Homecare Services at 610-488-CARE, and remember to drink water and be merry!