hormonal and metabolic disorders
Dehydration
Symptoms of Dehydration
At first, dehydration stimulates the thirst center of the brain, causing thirst, a powerful motivator for people to drink more fluids. If water intake does not keep up with water loss, dehydration becomes more severe. Sweating decreases, and less urine is excreted. Water moves from inside the cells to the bloodstream to maintain the needed amount of blood (blood volume) and blood pressure (see About Body Water ). If dehydration continues, tissues of the body begin to dry out, and cells begin to shrivel and malfunction. Symptoms ofmild to moderate dehydrationinclude Thirst Reduced sweating Reduced skin elasticity Reduced urine production Dry mouth dehydration, the sensation of thirst may actually decrease and blood pressure can fall, causing light-headedness or fainting, particularly upon standing (a condition called Dizziness or Light-Headedness When Standing Up ). If dehydration continues, Dehydration Older people are particularly susceptible to dehydration. In older people, common causes of dehydration include Dementia or other mental conditions that diminish people's ability to care for themselves Disorders that make obtaining fluids difficult (usually because of restricted mobility, such as after a Overview of Stroke ) Additionally, older people sense thirst more slowly and less intensely than younger people do, so even those who are otherwise well may not drink enough fluids for a variety of reasons, including Urinary Incontinence in Adults or the fear of incontinence. Older people have a higher percentage of body fat. Because fat tissue contains less water than lean tissue, the total amount of water in the body tends to decrease with age. Overhydration In Overhydration , the body contains too much water. In older people, the kidneys excrete excess water less efficiently, and thus older people can develop overhydration more easily than younger people do. Swelling (edema) may or may not occur. 