Strategies for ensuring good hydration in the elderly.

Dehydration is a frequent etiology of morbidity and mortality in elderly people. It causes the hospitalization of many patients and its outcome may be fatal. Indeed, dehydration is often linked to infection, and if it is overlooked, mortality may be over 50%. Older individuals have been shown to have a higher risk of developing dehydration [...]

By |2013-01-31T18:32:27+00:00enero 31st, 2013|Age and the elderly, Scientific papers|0 Comments

Feeding and hydration issues for older adults with dementia.

All cultures dictate the need to feed the hungry and create rituals for almost every life passage around the consumption of food and beverage. Yet, in old age and among those who cannot advocate for themselves, mealtime is medicalized and demoted to an insignificant event without dignity or regard for individualized needs. Attention must be [...]

Dehydration in the elderly: strategies for prevention and management.

Dehydration is the most common fluid and electrolyte disturbance among the elderly population today. It is defined as a state of diminished total body water content and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Such health outcomes highlight the urgent need for effective screening and prevention in the primary care arena. Myriad predisposing factors [...]

By |2013-01-31T18:32:27+00:00enero 31st, 2013|Age and the elderly, Scientific papers|0 Comments

Monitoring hydration status in elderly veterans.

Dehydration is a common water and electrolyte disorder in long-term care residents. Practical methods to detect and monitor dehydration are needed. This study determined whether urine color measured by a urine color chart reflects hydration status. The study employed a repeated measures design with two observations during a 10-hour period. Urine color was compared to [...]

By |2013-01-31T18:32:27+00:00enero 31st, 2013|Assessment methodologies, Scientific papers|0 Comments

The relation of hydration status to cognitive performance in healthy older adults.

Little is known about the relation of hydration status to cognitive performance in older adults, who may be more vulnerable to poor hydration and cognitive impairment. We examined whether hydration status was related to cognitive functioning in 28 healthy community-dwelling older adults. Hierarchical regression models demonstrated that lower hydration status was related to slowed psychomotor [...]

By |2013-01-31T18:32:27+00:00enero 31st, 2013|Age and the elderly, Scientific papers|0 Comments

Plasma endothelin-1 level in athletes after exercise in a hot environment: exercise-induced dehydration contributes to increases in plasma endothelin-1.

We investigated whether dehydration due to exercise contributes to the increase in plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration. We measured the plasma concentration of ET-1 before and after exercise in a hot environment (about 30 degrees C). Five male intercollegiate Kendo (Japanese fencing) players entered the present study. Each athlete participated in 15 min of Kendo fighting, [...]

By |2013-01-31T18:32:27+00:00enero 31st, 2013|Exercise and sport, Scientific papers|0 Comments

Subcutaneous hydration by hypodermoclysis. A practical and low cost treatment for elderly patients.

As the world's population ages, chronic and degenerative diseases are rising. This scenario demands the development of new treatment techniques with lower costs, which are as efficient as the existing ones. Hypodermoclysis is the infusion of fluids into the subcutaneous tissue with a butterfly needle. This technique may be used for isotonic fluid replacement and [...]

By |2013-01-31T18:32:27+00:00enero 31st, 2013|Age and the elderly, Scientific papers|0 Comments