Mt. Gilead, OH – Home Care Services and Dehydration
Looking out for family is something most people do without a second thought. You may be concerned about your aging mother living at home alone. Perhaps you stop by on a regular basis to check on her, to make sure she didn’t fall and couldn’t reach the phone.
During all of those visits, there’s probably one thing you’ve overlooked and it’s something the majority of family members also overlook: dehydration. Dehydration is one of those potentially serious physical conditions that only shows minor signs or symptoms when it’s occurring. Even though the signs might be small, the impact on the body can be severe.
What is dehydration?
Dehydration is essentially when a person begins to lose more water from the body than they take in. The FDA recommends a woman drink 11 8-ounce glasses of water every day (and men should drink 16 glasses), according to Nutrition Now. Drinking soda, coffee, alcohol, or other beverages don’t provide the same amount of hydration.
Why is hydration so important?
Keeping the body functioning properly requires a balance of nutrition and hydration. The body regulates its temperature through a process of either shivering in the cold or sweating when it’s warm. Most people don’t even notice they’re sweating when it’s not incredibly hot out. The sweat will come under the armpits, in the groin, behind the knees, and other areas that aren’t as obvious.
Hydration is also essential for maintaining proper blood pressure and eliminating waste from the body. Too little water in the body can lead to constipation and other serious issues.
Some medications, especially diuretics that are used for controlling high blood pressure or antidepressants, could cause dehydration. Another problem for seniors is that the sense of thirst that is common among adults can diminish with age. Kidney function also affects hydration. Once a person reaches 50 years of age, they will begin to lose kidney function gradually over time. Also, illnesses that lead to diarrhea and vomiting can also lead to dehydration.
An experienced in home care service provider could monitor how much the senior is drinking and remind him or her to drink plenty of water throughout the day. They could also avoid possible dehydration by looking for signs or symptoms.
If you are considering hiring home care services near Mt. Gilead, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Ashland, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Loudonville, Mt. Gilead, Shelby, Wooster and the surrounding areas.
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