Even Older Adults Should Stay Hydrated
By Stephen R. Farris
Staying hydrated is one of the simplest things you can do to help keep your body healthy.
According to research, you should drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Roughly, 8 ounces per glass is ideal. But watch out that you don't over-hydrate yourself either.
In our younger years, we were usually more active whether working or playing, which led to our bodies sweating more. We drank more water to replenish the fluids we lost. As we grew older, most of us became less active and we tend to not drink as much water as we should.
Often our beverage of choice is a cup of coffee, a glass of tea, or even sodas. However, none of those replace water to keep us hydrated.
Some of the consequences from not drinking enough water could be fatigue, muscle pain, and heat exhaustion to name a few. And for older adults, these ailments from being dehydrated can be even more devastating for us. That's why it's very important to drink water as an older adult, among other reasons which will be covered below.
Body Temperature
According to research, older adults don't always realize they're thirsty. This is due to our brain not always sending the signal to our thirst center. If you have a regimen of drinking eight glasses of water per day, then you should be fine. But one of the main reasons older adults need to keep hydrated is the fact that we tend to get cold more often, and therefore we seek warmth. With warmth -- coupled with the decrease of our brain to signal we're thirsty -- we may sweat more, and could eventually become dehydrated. So basically, whether you are thirsty or not, pour a glass of water and drink.
Aging
One of the problems with aging is we aren't fully aware that we are. We still feel young at heart, and for a lot of us, we can do a lot of things we did in our younger selves. When it comes to hydration, we can be stubborn to the point that we become subject to dehydration. Stubbornness aside, we still need water in order for everything inside our body to function properly.
Don't forget, if you have any questions about your physical health, including keeping hydrated, talk with your local chiropractor. They can offer tips and suggestions to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cypress, Tex.