Specialist in Issues of Midlife & Older Adults

Dehydration Can Cause Dizziness

It is my experience and research backs this up that older people are often dehydrated. A region in the brain called the mid cingulate cortex predicts how much water a person needs, but this region malfunctions in older people. So, in essence, our aging brains underestimate how much water we need to drink in order to steroid-usa rehydrate. Our sense of thirst decreases.

One of the side effects of dehydration can be dizziness or lightheadedness. If an older person experiences dizziness, particularly in the morning, he should consult with his MD of course. If he does not have ear problems which can cause dizziness, and if his medications are not the problem, and no other obvious medical problem seems to be the cause, it is a very simple step to see if dehydration might be the root of the problem.

The Mayo Clinic advises this routine: Put a large glass of water (10-12 oz) on your nightstand. In the morning *before getting out of bed*, sit up and drink the entire glass of water. Wait about 15 minutes before getting up. Try this several mornings and see if your dizziness lessens. I have seen this help numerous people. It’s free, it’s non-invasive, good for us and easy to try!

It may not help but if it does, what a relief for dizziness sufferers!

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From Mayo Clinic website article on dehydration:

Older adults. As you age, you become more susceptible to dehydration for several reasons: Your body’s ability to conserve water is reduced, your thirst sense becomes less acute and you’re less able to respond to changes in temperature. What’s more, older adults, especially people in nursing homes or living alone, tend to eat less than younger people do and sometimes may forget to eat or drink altogether. Disability or neglect also may prevent them from being well nourished. These problems are compounded by chronic illnesses such as diabetes, by hormonal changes associated with menopause and by the use of certain medications.

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