Hydration myths may be putting older people's health at risk.

[2greys]

Myths about healthy drinking may be putting older people’s health at risk by discouraging them from drinking enough fluid to stay healthy, according to a new UCL-led study. Dehydration is thought to affect between a third to nearly half of frail older people and is associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, from having a stroke or a fall to being admitted to hospital.

For example, it is known that people who are admitted to hospital after a stroke are more than twice as likely to suffer significant impairment if they are dehydrated when they are admitted*.

ucl.ac.uk/news/2019/dec/hyd...

[hypercat54]

Interesting. It was a constant battle to get my elderly mother to drink as she always said she wasn't thirsty. Gradually she sunk into a kind of apathy and was always very tired and rarely spoke.

When she ended up in hospital they confirmed that she was dehydrated and put her on a drip. Within a day she was a lot more lively and was talking away. All she did was complain as usual.....but you can't have everything! x

[CFla]

Toss in fluid restrictions for HF while increasing patients medications is a bad recipe. I try to bump my recommended limit and see what my limit really is. It’s a delicate balance as over hydration is what helped push me into HF. I’ve since read that people with desk jobs shouldn’t over do it. I was hydrating like I worked outside and sweating profusely

[SORRELHIPPO]

One of the biggest myths I used to come across, was people thinking that if they drank after 4 pm they would need the loo in the night. I used to give them the equipment they needed to get there and use it, in safety, and then explain, what my nurse colleague told me. It is the other way round, the less you drink, so the stronger your urine, the more your body wants to expel it, so the more you go. The nurse did explain the chemistry to me , but did not retain that bit. In the cold, I gather your blood thickens more, (should wear a hat when out) so even more important you keep up the fluid intake. A shame I am not allowed alcohol any more!!

[Hidden]

I was talking to my dad about keeping hydrated this morning 2greys. He's not long come out of hospital with a kidney infection and is waiting to have his catheter removed. He never drinks water but now knows he needs to. He's 89.

[majji in reply to Hidden]

Excellent pg, please let him know we are all rooting for him!

[majji]

This is so very true 2greys - I have experienced two very elderly people who were allowed to become seriously dehydrated in error and both became very ill - and as soon as they were rehydrated they improved pretty quickly - don't allow anyone elderly to forget to drink a lot of water as it will affect their thinking allowing them to become even more confused.

[Ergendl]

The number of times I had to give a drinks plan to patients as part of their dietetic prescriptions! I had to specify size of cup. glass or mug, pattern of drinking through the day, type of fluids (yes, tea and coffee better than not drinking anything at all). Proper fluid intake can transform many conditions and help improve many others.

[Redrum46]

Wen as a child in hospital with my bronctiactasis. I was always given warter and told it is important to drink plenty and I always have I think it helps to thin dawn mucus in your body and help it not go sticky Hope this is right

[2greys in reply to Redrum46]

100% correct.

[MoyB]

This is a good reminder, 2greys.

I had a good talking to in hospital once as the chest consultant told me off for getting dehydrated. Had she looked at my notes properly, she would have seen that I had sickness and diarrhoea on admission and that was what had caused me to be dehydrated! Her words still echo in my head, though, and I make sure I drink plenty. xx Moy