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Are You Drinking Enough Water as You Age?

The dangers of dehydration in older adults

Aaron Kassraie,

AARP

En español

Published August 01, 2023

9 Questions

58014cf6-a0c2-414d-8719-6047485fe525

Are You Drinking Enough Water as You Age?

[ {
  "question" : "True or false? Factors that can lead to reduced water intake include use of certain medications, incontinence and a decreased sense of thirst as you age.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Research shows that up to 40% of older adults may not be consistently drinking enough water.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? Adults should drink eight cups of water a day.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Current recommendations advise about 13 cups for men and nine cups for women per day, including water contained in other beverages, the National Academy of Medicine suggests. However, the exact requirements vary by age, sex, pregnancy and breastfeeding status. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? Adults who are not sufficiently hydrated may experience accelerated aging and increased risk of chronic illness such as lung disease, diabetes, heart failure and stroke.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "They may also have a higher likelihood of premature death, a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Which of the following puts older adults at risk of dehydration?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "The body’s ability to retain water in blood vessels with age",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Diabetes",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Diuretic medication",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Cognitive decline may also cause dehydration for those who forget to drink water. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? Dehydration that goes unaddressed can lead to serious consequences such as confusion, weakness, dizziness and fractures.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "It may also cause blood pressure to get so low that the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body, a condition known as hypovolemic shock.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or False? Dehydration may cause constipation.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Water helps flush toxins out of the body and keeps the digestive system running smoothly. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? Eating foods that contain high amounts of water can provide hydration.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Those foods include cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, celery, radishes, tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage and watermelon. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? Older adults who feel thirsty are probably a bit dehydrated.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The level of dehydration required for the sense of thirst to kick in happens later as we age. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, try to drink water throughout the day. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "What are some of the best ways to stay hydrated throughout the day?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Always keep water with you",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Avoid or reduce alcohol intake",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Make a habit to drink water at certain times a day",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "If you have trouble drinking fluids, remember you can also snack on foods high in water content.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Are You Drinking Enough Water as You Age?

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Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. 