Dehydration and body temperature affect heart health \n<\/strong><\/em>The researchers said that dehydration doesn\u2019t reduce heat loss or increase body temperature in older adults during exercise as it does in younger people, which may seem on the surface like a beneficial response.<\/p>\nBut that means that when older people exercise, their bodies don\u2019t adjust the rate of sweat loss to prevent further dehydration.<\/p>\n
This results in greater strain on the heart, evidenced by a more pronounced increase in heart rate compared to younger men.<\/p>\n
The study featured older men, although the results pointed to all older adults as those affected.<\/p>\n
The researchers added that \u201cuntil recently, however, our understanding of the effects of dehydration on body temperature regulation came primarily from studies conducted on young adults.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an interesting study, as it delivers new insights into fundamental age-related changes to our physiology,\u201d\u00a0Dr. Scott A. Kaiser, a geriatrician at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, told Healthline.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile changes in the regulation of body heat, sweating, hydration, and thirst that tend to occur with age are well established, this study probes deeply into the specific changes of underlying mechanisms. In particular, changes in response to dehydration and heat with exercise,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s quite remarkable that, at this point in time, we are still learning such fundamental things about the way our bodies change with age,\u201d Kaiser added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat said, given our aging population \u2014 with a 30-year gain in life expectancy over the last century, [with] roughly 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day, and declining birth rates \u2014 we are approaching the first time in human history in which our population will have more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 18<\/span>. We need to continue to increase our understanding of the fundamental physiology of aging.\u201d<\/p>\nResearchers said that a reduced sensitivity in older people to elevated blood osmolality (concentration of salt) could explain the blunted effect of dehydration on hearing loss<\/em> and body temperature regulation in older adults during exercise and in greater heat.<\/p>\nWhy body temperature matters \n<\/strong>The researchers found that in contrast to young adults, the regulation of body temperature in the older subjects wasn\u2019t influenced by the increase of saltiness in the blood.<\/p>\nLess efficient regulation of body temperature contributes to an increased risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and adverse heart problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to the elderly, there are a couple of things we need to remember,\u201d Dr. Nodar Janas, medical director of Upper East Side Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in New York, told Healthline. \u201cAs we get older, our thirst center \u2014 which is located in the hypothalamus \u2014 isn\u2019t as active as it used to be, so the brain doesn\u2019t always give the signal that we need to drink. We need to make an extra effort to ensure that the elderly consume appropriate amounts of fluids, whether they\u2019re thirsty or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cIf an elderly person gets dehydrated, one of the first organs to suffer are the kidneys, which can cause acute kidney failure. Dehydration also creates electrolyte imbalances, which can be deadly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother anecdotal point to mention is that the elderly seem to have a worse tolerance to cold,\u201d said Janas. \u201cAs we age, we prefer warmer temperatures and sometimes too warm of an environment can lead to excessive perspiration without realizing you\u2019re dehydrated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being aware of aging \n<\/strong>Dr. Rand McClain, founder of Regenerative & Sports Medicine in Santa Monica, California, told Healthline<\/em> that he sees one particular problem among older people, especially men when it comes to dehydration: They\u2019re not aware or accepting of how their body changes with age.<\/p>\n\u201cThey are less likely to be wary and more likely to ignore signs of dehydration and heat-related illness because they have a past history that is unrepresentative of their new status as older adult males,\u201d McClain said.<\/p>\n
He added that older men might think, I have been doing it like this my whole life without a problem, so why should I change now?<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people have never experienced the severe symptoms associated with dehydration and, if dehydrated, are usually mildly so and able to compensate without much effort,\u201d McClain said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have air-conditioned environments, water fountains, and fluids so easily accessed in most places. However, many people do indeed live in a mildly dehydrated state because of the diuretic beverages they consume, such as coffee, tea, and caffeinated soft drinks and alcohol.\u201d<\/p>\n
McClain said we tend to \u201cdry out\u201d as we age, as our water composition can change from roughly 70 percent to as little as 50 percent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need water for everything to operate smoothly and at its best,\u201d he said. \u201cWhile we can go for weeks or months without food, we can go without water for only days. Even being slightly dehydrated to 98 percent of normal can affect one\u2019s metabolism negatively and reduce athletic and organ performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
How to hydrate \n<\/strong>Dr. Nicole Avena, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, told Healthline<\/em> that dehydration can cause other problems, such as fatigue and muscle weakness.<\/p>\nShe said a 2015 study found 37 percent of people 65 and older admitted to emergency rooms showed signs of dehydration.<\/p>\n
When it comes to how to hydrate, she says sticking to water is best.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you drink things like sodas and beverages that contain ingredients other than water, your body needs to work to process those ingredients,\u201d Avena said. \u201cPlain water is the best hydrator because your body can benefit from it without having to simultaneously process sugars, additives, and other ingredients that don\u2019t have any benefit to health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kristin Gillespie, MS, CNSC, a registered dietician with the website Exercise with Style, told Healthline<\/em> that the abundance of nutrients hyped for health benefits tends to muddy the waters, so to speak when it comes to how to hydrate.<\/p>\n\u201cThis makes it hard for the public to decide what nutrients are more or less important than others,\u201d Gillespie said. \u201cWater consumption and hydration are hard for a lot of people to appreciate because water offers no nutritional value.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that besides thirst, other symptoms of dehydration include dark or infrequent urination, dry skin and lips, muscle cramps (especially in legs, feet, and hands), low blood pressure, elevated heart rate, fatigue, and \u201cgeneral malaise.\u201d<\/p>\n
And staying hydrated can also help avoid illnesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn added benefit of drinking lots of water is its positive effect on immunity,\u201d Gillespie said. \u201cConsuming adequate fluids helps keep you healthy by helping your body naturally rid itself of bacteria and other toxins.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As you age your body doesn\u2019t adjust the rate of sweat loss as well, so drinking water even when you\u2019re not thirsty is important. Source: Healthline – Eileen Bailey<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":53692,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1281],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"
As You Get Older, You Need to Drink More Water. Here\u2019s Why : The Szpinner<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n