Dehydration triggers when a person loses more water than they take in.
When dehydrated, a person’s urine turns dark yellow, indicating it is more concentrated.
Urinating less frequently or noticing a smaller urine volume when using the bathroom are also common.
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However, the presence or absence of these urine symptoms is not reliable for diagnosing dehydration in older adults.
Hypernatremiais characterized by elevated sodium levels in the bloodstream.
In older adults, it’s often due to severe or prolonged poor water intake.
Symptoms can include weakness and irritability, progressing to muscle twitching, seizures, coma, and potentially death.
Withhypovolemic shock, a person’s blood pressure becomes so low that oxygen delivery to vital organs is impaired.
To avoid disrupting their sleep, they may purposefully drink less.
Those withurinary incontinenceare also prone to dehydration.
They might restrict themselves from drinking to avoid having an accident.
Age is the strongest risk factor for dementia.
These physical changes can impair adequate hydration.
Oral rehydration solutions(ORS) are available at local grocery stores or pharmacies.
Medicine to ease the vomiting or diarrhea may be needed.
They are generally administered at a rate based on body weight.
However, this recommendation is not a hard-and-fast rule.
A person’s fluid needs may be lower or higher based on underlying medical conditions and activity level.
Mild dehydration can usually be treated at home with oral rehydration solutions.
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