Friday, June 2, 2017

WATER AND YOU

1. WE LOSE ABOUT 0.5L THROUGH OUR SKIN, EVEN WHEN WE'RE COOL AND INACTIVE.

2. WATER IS THE ONLY NATURALLY OCCURRING ZERO-CALORIE DRINK.

3. MAINTAINING GOOD HYDRATION ENSURES PHYSICAL ENDURANCE.

4. MAINTAINING GOOD HYDRATION ENSURES OPTIMAL COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE.

5. HUMAN BREAST MILK CONTAINS AROUND 87% WATER.

6. AS YOU AGE, YOUR SENSATION OF THIRST DIMINISHES.

7. YOUR MUSCLES ARE COMPOSED ON 75.6% OF WATER.

8. YOUR BRAIN IS COMPOSED OF 74.8% OF WATER.

9. YOUR BONE IS COMPOSED OF 22% OF WATER.

10. THE MORE YOU FILTER WATER, THE MORE ARTIFICIAL IT BECOMES.

11. A NORMAL ADULT BODY IS MADE UP OF 60-70% WATER.

12. YOUR BLOOD CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 83% WATER.

13. DARK OR STRONG-SMELLING URINE IS A SIGN THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY ALREADY DEHYDRATED.

14. UNLIKE OTHER LIQUIDS, WATER CONTAINS NO CALORIES, NO ACIDS, NO ADDITIVES.

15. WE LOSE 2.6L OF WATER PER DAY.

16. WATER IS THE ONLY LIQUID WE NEED TO HYDRATE.

17. WATER IS FREE FROM SUGARS, ACIDS AND ADDITIVES.

18. WE CAN SURVIVE SECONDS WITHOUT AIR, DAYS WITHOUT WATER, AND WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD.

Dehydration and Aging

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and eating fruit and vegetables.

Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to function normally. Dehydration can happen to anyone, but it is a problem that is more common in people who are older.

Your body loses water every day when you breath, perspire, urinate, and have bowel movements. For your body to work right, you need to keep it well hydrated.

As you age, your sense of thirst lessens and the kidney isn’t able to conserve body water as well. Over the age of 50, you may feel tired and draggy rather than thirsty, and may opt for a nap instead of a tall glass of water. If you remain dehydrated, you can end up suffering complications, some of which can be serious. 

Drugs Can Dry You Out

Medications — not only diuretics that make you urinate more water, but also drugs for blood pressure and other cardiac conditions — can compound the effect of dehydration on blood pressure.

These medications are usually taken first thing in the morning and reach their peak effect in the late morning. Sometimes eating a meal high in salt can shift body fluid to the stomach and intestine to aid digestion, which is a perfect recipe for making you faint if you are already dehydrated.

Other, more serious, complications may include heatstroke, swelling of the brain, seizures, kidney failure, and, if you become severely dehydrated, even death.

Symptoms

For mild dehydration look out for:

Dry, sticky mouth
Sleepiness or tiredness
Thirst
Decreased urine
Headache
Lightheadedness

Severe dehydration, which is a medical emergency, may cause:

Extreme thirst
Irritability and confusion
Very dry mouth, skin, and mucous membranes
Lack of sweating
Little or no urination
Low blood pressure
Rapid heartbeat
Fever
Delirium or unconsciousness
Thirst sometimes is not a good gauge of how much water your body needs, especially for older adults. A better way to check is to look at the color of your urine: clear or light-colored urine means you’re getting enough water, and dark yellow urine may mean you’re dehydrated.

Dehydration Prevention
The best way to prevent dehydration is to make sure you drink enough water and eat plenty of foods high in water content such as fruits and vegetables. Also remember that your body needs more water if you live in a hot climate, you are sick, or you are exercising.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends adults drink almost 2 liters of water a day — that’s about eight 8-ounce glasses. The Institute of Medicine recommends adults drink 3.7 liters of water a day (or roughly 15 8-ounce glasses daily).

Most doctors recommend drinking eight or nine glasses of water a day. If you have a chronic medical condition, such as congestive heart failure, talk to your doctor first about how much fluid you require.


Anytime you are feeling faint, tired, or dizzy, don’t just go lie down.  Consider that your body is trying to tell you something — and it could be that it’s thirsty. Go get a glass of water.  It could change your whole day!


Expert Working Group
Our Expert Working Group meet regularly to discuss the importance of healthy hydration and to develop strategies to encourage patients and the general public to adopt healthier hydration practices.

Prof. Max Lafontan
Prof. Max Lafontan
INSERM Unit 858, University of Toulouse, France

Prof. David Haslam
Prof. David Haslam
Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire / National Obesity Forum, UK

Prof. Hardinsyah
Prof. Hardinsyah
Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia

Prof. Jean-François Duhamel
Prof. Jean-François Duhamel
CHU de Caen, France

Dr. Simón Barquera
Dr. Simón Barquera
National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico

Prof. Lawrence E. Armstrong
Prof. Lawrence E. Armstrong

University Professor, specialist in sports physiology and expert in hydration, Connecticut, USA

Senior Services
We're here to help you maintain an independent, optimal quality of life.

We offer a wide range of educational programs, assessment services, and resource information for older adults, their families and those caring for them. 


Geriatric Care Coordination
We have licensed and experienced social workers available to help with concerns related to aging, health, and care needs. If the older adult has a primary doctor, we will provide an assessment of all the factors affecting the older adult’s health and independence. We will communicate with the doctor and coordinate a care plan that supports the health and independence of the individual, couple or family.

We also provide information and connect you to resources and services in the community for the older adult and family. There is no fee for this service. Common concerns we address include:

Dementia or signs of memory loss
Elder neglect or abuse
Caregiver concerns and support
Decline in ability to care for oneself
Loss of independence
Falls and risks related to falls
Frequent hospitalizations or emergency visits
Depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions
Loss, grief, bereavement and loneliness
Unable to manage in current living situation
End of life concerns

Patient Navigators
Our patient navigators are available to serve as your link to information about health and health care and coordinate your Health services. Our patient navigators also provide health education materials and assist with referrals to community resources for older adults, families, and caregivers.

Memory Screening
We offer free memory screening for adults 65 years or older who are experiencing memory loss or cognitive changes. These screenings can identify potential risks and memory changes that may indicate the need for further evaluation.  We will assist patients in getting further follow up if indicated and in coordinating a plan to address your memory loss with your primary care physician. Need a Health primary doctor? Find a doctor now.

HICAP – Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program.
Our volunteer counselors are here to help you 

Educational Programs

Regularly scheduled educational seminars are offered on a variety of topics including health and wellness, caregiving, dementia, and more. Most of the classes are free of charge and are available to all members of the community. 

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