Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsRisksTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Risks
Treatment
Prevention
Chronic dehydration occurs over a long period of losing more fluids than you take in. It happens gradually, so symptoms may start as mild but worsen over time. This contrasts with acute dehydration, in which you recognize symptoms of thirst and dry mouth after a day of not drinking enough or after excessive sweating.
Chronic dehydration usually happens because you don’t drink enough fluids. But other things, like certain medications or diabetes, can increase the risk of chronic dehydration.
This article will explore the signs and symptoms, how it’s treated, and how to avoid chronic dehydration.
Common Chronic Dehydration Causes
Dehydrationhappens when you lose too much water and body salts (electrolytes), such assodiumandpotassium.
Reasons this may happen include:
Thirstis your body’s signal that you need more fluids. Older adults sometimes have a diminished sense of thirst.Also, total body water (the percentage of your body weight that is water) gets lower as you age. Your body doesn’t store as much water.
Frequent use ofdiureticsandlaxativescan make matters worse.People in this age group may also drink less voluntarily due to mobility issues, to reduce bathroom visits, or to prevent incontinence.
Older people who live in skilled nursing facilities have a higher risk for chronic dehydration because they tend to drink less. Other risk factors among people in this group include:
Hypertonic dehydration is when you lose more water than sodium, as might happen with age-related thirst impairment. Hypotonic dehydration is when you lose more sodium than water, which can happen as a result of major burns or using diuretics. Isotonic dehydration is when you lose the same amount of water and sodium, as can occur when you have diarrhea.
Symptoms: How to Tell If You Have Chronic Dehydration
A rough measurement of chronic dehydration is how much urine you produce and its color.Dark urineusually means you’re not getting enough water, thoughurine colorcan vary due to medications, supplements, and some foods.
Other symptoms of dehydration include:
Dehydration can also involve:
How Is Dehydration Diagnosed?A healthcare provider will look for signs of dehydration such as:Low blood pressure or blood pressure that drops when you stand upRapid heart rateSkin that is less elastic and doesn’t spring back into place after being pinchedDiagnostic testing may include blood and urine tests to check blood sugar levels and kidney function or look for other problems.
How Is Dehydration Diagnosed?
A healthcare provider will look for signs of dehydration such as:Low blood pressure or blood pressure that drops when you stand upRapid heart rateSkin that is less elastic and doesn’t spring back into place after being pinchedDiagnostic testing may include blood and urine tests to check blood sugar levels and kidney function or look for other problems.
A healthcare provider will look for signs of dehydration such as:
Diagnostic testing may include blood and urine tests to check blood sugar levels and kidney function or look for other problems.
Risks of Chronic Dehydration
Water makes up about 60% of adult body weight.You need water for just about every body function.
On Body
Complications of dehydration can lead to:
Without treatment, severe dehydration can lead to:
If you think you’re drinking enough water, but still feel dehydrated, see a healthcare provider. Symptoms such as excessive thirst, dry skin, and frequent urination may be related to a chronic illness, such as diabetes.
In Vulnerable Populations
Children and people over age 60 are more vulnerable to dehydration.Chronic dehydration in older adults can lead to:
In older adults and in people who are very ill, dehydration is a risk factor for delirium anddelirium that looks like dementia.Dehydration is a risk factor for confusion among people who live in long-term care facilities.
Signs of chronic dehydration in someone else include:Dry, cracked lipsDry skinSunken eyesNo tearsNo sweat when physically active or when it’s hotLethargy, confusionOther signs of chronic dehydration in older adults include:Poor cognitive performanceFalls and fracturesWorsening illness or recovery from illness
Signs of chronic dehydration in someone else include:
Other signs of chronic dehydration in older adults include:
Steps to Treat Chronic Dehydration
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids, particularly water.
A healthcare provider will likely order a blood test to check yourelectrolytes, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Electrolytes can get out of balance when you don’t have enough water in your body. The results can determine the treatment, which may include electrolyte replacement therapy.
Treatment may differ depending on the cause, your age, your overall health, and the severity of symptoms. If you have mild, acute dehydration, it’s important to replenish fluids with water, fruit juices, or tea. Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine, which can make you lose more water.
Severe dehydration is a life-threatening emergency. You may require hospitalization, where you can get intravenous (IV) fluids.
How Dehydration Is Recognized and Treated Clinically
How to Stay Ahead of Chronic Dehydration
The “eight glasses a day” rule isn’t right for everyone. There’s no hard and fast rule onhow much water per dayeveryone needs. Needs vary based on age, sex, and whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
It’s not just water and other drinks. About 20% of water intake comes from foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. These include lettuce and leafy greens, cucumbers, peppers, squash, celery, berries, and melons.Try adding some of these foods to your diet.
You need more water than usual when the weather is hot or you’re physically active. You should also replenish fluids more often when you have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Drinking alcohol can make you lose more water. Avoid drinking more than one alcoholic beverage within a short period, especially on an empty stomach. Eat food and alternate sips of water when drinking alcohol. If you tend toward chronic dehydration, consider avoiding alcohol altogether.
Summary
Chronic dehydration is when you don’t get enough fluids to meet your needs over a long period. It affects every system in your body and puts you at risk of life-threatening health problems. Because the sense of thirst can decline with age, older adults are at higher risk of chronic dehydration.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.Beck AM, Seemer J, Knudsen AW, Munk T.Narrative review of low-intake dehydration in older adults.Nutrients.2021;13(9):3142. doi:10.3390/nu13093142Nagae M, Umegaki H, Onishi J, et al.Chronic dehydration in nursing home residents.Nutrients.2020;12(11):3562. doi:10.3390/nu12113562El-Sharkawy AM, Sahota O, Lobo DN.Acute and chronic effects of hydration status on health.Nutr Rev.2015;73(suppl 2):97-109. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuv038Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Water.Engelheart S, Forslund HB, Brummer RJ, Ljungqvist O.Dehydration and loss of appetite: key nutrition features in older people receiving home health care. Nutrition. 2021;91-92:111385. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2021.111385Slidell Memorial Hospital.8 Signs that you are dehydrated.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, Barrios PL, Baker LB, Spriet LL.Narrative review of hydration and selected health outcomes in the general population.Nutrients.2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070National Council on Aging.Hydration for older adults. How to stay hydrated for better health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.Sfera A, Cummings M, Osorio C.Dehydration and cognition in geriatrics: a hydromolecular hypothesis.Front Mol Biosci.2016;3:18. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2016.00018MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water and healthier drinks.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.Beck AM, Seemer J, Knudsen AW, Munk T.Narrative review of low-intake dehydration in older adults.Nutrients.2021;13(9):3142. doi:10.3390/nu13093142Nagae M, Umegaki H, Onishi J, et al.Chronic dehydration in nursing home residents.Nutrients.2020;12(11):3562. doi:10.3390/nu12113562El-Sharkawy AM, Sahota O, Lobo DN.Acute and chronic effects of hydration status on health.Nutr Rev.2015;73(suppl 2):97-109. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuv038Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Water.Engelheart S, Forslund HB, Brummer RJ, Ljungqvist O.Dehydration and loss of appetite: key nutrition features in older people receiving home health care. Nutrition. 2021;91-92:111385. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2021.111385Slidell Memorial Hospital.8 Signs that you are dehydrated.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, Barrios PL, Baker LB, Spriet LL.Narrative review of hydration and selected health outcomes in the general population.Nutrients.2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070National Council on Aging.Hydration for older adults. How to stay hydrated for better health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.Sfera A, Cummings M, Osorio C.Dehydration and cognition in geriatrics: a hydromolecular hypothesis.Front Mol Biosci.2016;3:18. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2016.00018MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water and healthier drinks.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.Beck AM, Seemer J, Knudsen AW, Munk T.Narrative review of low-intake dehydration in older adults.Nutrients.2021;13(9):3142. doi:10.3390/nu13093142Nagae M, Umegaki H, Onishi J, et al.Chronic dehydration in nursing home residents.Nutrients.2020;12(11):3562. doi:10.3390/nu12113562El-Sharkawy AM, Sahota O, Lobo DN.Acute and chronic effects of hydration status on health.Nutr Rev.2015;73(suppl 2):97-109. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuv038Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Water.Engelheart S, Forslund HB, Brummer RJ, Ljungqvist O.Dehydration and loss of appetite: key nutrition features in older people receiving home health care. Nutrition. 2021;91-92:111385. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2021.111385Slidell Memorial Hospital.8 Signs that you are dehydrated.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, Barrios PL, Baker LB, Spriet LL.Narrative review of hydration and selected health outcomes in the general population.Nutrients.2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070National Council on Aging.Hydration for older adults. How to stay hydrated for better health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.Sfera A, Cummings M, Osorio C.Dehydration and cognition in geriatrics: a hydromolecular hypothesis.Front Mol Biosci.2016;3:18. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2016.00018MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water and healthier drinks.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.
Beck AM, Seemer J, Knudsen AW, Munk T.Narrative review of low-intake dehydration in older adults.Nutrients.2021;13(9):3142. doi:10.3390/nu13093142
Nagae M, Umegaki H, Onishi J, et al.Chronic dehydration in nursing home residents.Nutrients.2020;12(11):3562. doi:10.3390/nu12113562
El-Sharkawy AM, Sahota O, Lobo DN.Acute and chronic effects of hydration status on health.Nutr Rev.2015;73(suppl 2):97-109. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuv038
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Water.
Engelheart S, Forslund HB, Brummer RJ, Ljungqvist O.Dehydration and loss of appetite: key nutrition features in older people receiving home health care. Nutrition. 2021;91-92:111385. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2021.111385
Slidell Memorial Hospital.8 Signs that you are dehydrated.
MedlinePlus.Dehydration.
Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, Barrios PL, Baker LB, Spriet LL.Narrative review of hydration and selected health outcomes in the general population.Nutrients.2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070
National Council on Aging.Hydration for older adults. How to stay hydrated for better health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.
Sfera A, Cummings M, Osorio C.Dehydration and cognition in geriatrics: a hydromolecular hypothesis.Front Mol Biosci.2016;3:18. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2016.00018
MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.
Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water and healthier drinks.
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