Rheumatologist to Al-Madina: With the cold weather, do not make the elderly wait for thirst

Rheumatologist and osteoporosis doctor Dr. Dhia Hussein called on members of society, especially those caring for the elderly, not to ignore providing them with water and advised them to drink water without waiting for thirst in cold weather so that the body is in a state of constant hydration, indicating that most people – specifically – the elderly need to drink water regularly. Good on a daily basis, as with their age, weak immunity and health, and lack of desire to drink water, they may not care about drinking water, which requires that the role of those who care for and follow up on them be great. In health aspects, including healthy nutrition. He told Al-Madina that the elderly are more susceptible to dehydration due to a decreased sense of thirst, and the reason for this is that the sensory cells overestimate the amount of water consumed with age. In addition to the deterioration of the functional efficiency of the kidneys in the elderly, and to avoid the risk of dehydration, the elderly are advised to drink an amount of fluids of no less than 1.5 liters per day, even if they do not feel thirsty – as she explained.

He continued: Water is an essential foundation for almost all body functions, from joint flexibility, to regulating temperature, and pumping blood to the muscles, while not getting a sufficient amount of water leads to serious health consequences, which is why dehydration is a common reason for the elderly to enter the hospital to receive treatment. And follow-up. The best way to avoid dehydration is to drink plenty of fluids, the most important of which is of course water. The rule (eight glasses or small ready-made bottles of water a day) is considered general advice and is applied by many because it is easy to remember. Here, adults are instructed to drink glasses or bottles of water daily.

Dr. Diaa noted that there are many things that lead to dehydration in the elderly, in addition to the lack of fluid intake, especially water, including decreased kidney function, as aging can affect kidney function, which makes the organs less efficient in conserving water, as well as chronic diseases in most elderly people. Suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease. These health conditions can affect fluid balance and increase the risk of dehydration. There are also medications. Older people often take medications that can increase the risk of dehydration, such as: diuretics. Urine, which is often prescribed for conditions such as high blood pressure and heart failure, so elderly people must take care of their health and provide them with fluids, the most important of which is water, to avoid and avoid many of the resulting problems.