Mental Confusion

Dehydration is the causes of mental confusion in the elderly  -Dr. Simmonds

People over 60 years old dehydrate easily, not only because they have a smaller water supply; but also because they do not feel the lack of water in the body.

Although people over 60 may look healthy, the performance of reactions and chemical functions can damage their entire body.

People over 60 generally stop feeling thirsty and consequently, stop drinking fluids.

When no one is around to remind them to drink fluids, they quickly dehydrate.

Dehydration is severe and affects the entire body.  It may cause abrupt mental confusion, a drop in blood pressure, increased heart palpitations, angina (chest pain), coma and even death.

This habit of forgetting to drink fluids, begins at age 60, when we have just over 50% of the water we should have in our bodies. 

People over 60 have a lower water reserve. This is part of the natural aging process.

But there are more complications. Although they are dehydrated, they don’t feel like drinking water, because their internal balance mechanisms don’t work very well.

So here are two alerts:

1) Get into the habit of drinking water& liquids.  Liquids include water, juices, green teas, coconut water, soups, and water-rich fruits, such as watermelon, melon, peaches and pineapple;  Orange and tangerine also work.

The important thing is that, every two hours, you must drink some liquid.

Remember this!

2) Alert for family members: constantly offer fluids to people over 60.  At the same time, observe them.

If you realize that they are rejecting liquids and, from one day to the next, they are irritable, breathless or display a lack of attention, these are almost certainly recurrent symptoms of dehydration.

Inspired to drink more water now?