Curious Cook: A thirst for life

On average, humans should be drinking two litres of water a day. — PIXABAY/Pexels

As people get older, the likelihood of dehydration increases significantly. In the USA, studies have indicated that around 68% of people over the age of 70 suffer some degree of dehydration, a condition which can lead to adverse health outcomes in older people.

Examples of such health risks include falls, bone fractures, heart disease, confusion, delirium, heat stress, constipation, kidney failure, pressure ulcers, inferior recovery from internal/external wounds, infections, seizures, increased drug toxicity, and an overall reduction in the quality of life. A small sample of 103 people aged 65 or over admitted to hospital in the USA found that 40% of them were dehydrated on admission, although it is unclear if the hospital admissions were all caused by dehydration.