Water… How Much Should I Be Drinking?
Question: My husband is 73 with post polio. We have a constant disagreement over his refusal to drink at least 6 glasses of water/fluids a day. He gets maybe 3 on a good day. Would you please be so kind to address this. Part of the reason not to drink is getting up and going to the bathroom. I know adequate hydration may have some possible positive effect on physical stamina.
Answer:
"It is certainly understandable that a person who has difficulty physically getting into and out of the bathroom might want to try to limit trips to the bathroom. However chronic dehydration can have serious consequences - decreased blood pressure to the point of causing imbalance, falling, and passing out; worsening kidney function, increased risk of kidney stones, and lack of energy/sleepiness. The thirst mechanism is reduced in people as they age, so for most of us by the time we are thirsty we are already moderately dehydrated. Of course, we need more liquids in hot weather to make up for loss of water through sweating.
One calculator for how much water a person should drink multiplies the person’s weight by 2/3 to determine how many ounces of water that person should drink each day or see this Chart. A typical glass equals 1 cup or 8 ounces.
This article was written as a guideline for polio survivors who do NOT have heart failure, moderate to severe kidney disease or conditions that cause excessive water loss such a chronic significant diarrhea. If a person has one of these conditions then, of course, the advice of the specialist(s) caring for you and who knows you best is the advice you should follow!