Dehydration WARNING: Exposed unexpected signs and consequences

About 60 percent of you is water. Since your body needs water to perform hundreds of basic physiological functions, it is imperative that you constantly replenish yourself with adequate fluid intake. Indeed, dehydration is a major health risk—especially for older adults. Of course, as much as it makes sense to drink more water, many of us struggle with it—anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of Americans don't drink enough. By becoming more aware of the unexpected signs and consequences of dehydration—from sleep problems to migraines—we hope you'll remember to pour yourself a glass or two.

Dehydration can cause sleepless nights…plus, other surprising dangers of not getting enough fluids Most of us know that dehydration can lead to decreased urine output or cause urine to become dark and foul-smelling. It is also common knowledge that dehydration can lead to dizziness and lightheadedness, muscle cramps and, of course, thirst. But that's not all that puts a dehydrated body at risk.

According to many integrative health experts: Dehydration can actually make it harder to get a good night's sleep due to problems like dry airways, increased snoring, and leg cramps. Remember: You're already losing water while you sleep through sweat and breath. Dehydration is also linked to other disabling or serious problems, including painful migraine headaches, delayed wound healing, organ damage, and impaired memory and cognition.

How much water should I drink?

Now, there is no single answer to the question, "How much water should I drink?" But a good starting point is about 2.7 liters per day for women and 3.7 liters per day for men, according to the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. To optimize your health and avoid dehydration, you may need more or less than this. Do you want to get into a better hydration habit? Research shows that carrying a reusable water bottle with you also promotes increased water intake. To reduce your risk of exposure to environmental toxins found in plastic water bottles, just be sure to choose steel or glass water containers whenever possible.

Insufficient water intake affects the elderly population more, here are 3 warning signs that are often ignored. Most of us could probably drink enough water. But older adults are especially at increased risk for dehydration, for several reasons. For example, some older adults don't feel thirsty as easily as younger adults. If she gets older an adult struggling with mobility or incontinence may also deliberately avoid drinking water to avoid accidents or extra trips to the bathroom. Unfortunately, older adults tend to have more fat and less muscle. Since a large percentage of water is stored in the muscles, older people are simply not able to store as much. Couple that with issues like impaired kidney function and other chronic illnesses, and you have a potential recipe for dehydration disaster.

If you have an elderly loved one in your life, be sure to educate them about the importance of dehydration and make sure they are easy to drink. In the meantime, be aware of these 3 often overlooked signs of dehydration in the elderly:

Increased skin turgor, also known as “tenting” (this happens when you pinch someone's skin and the skin doesn't immediately return to its original position)

Altered mental status: May become lethargic, confused, or delirious

Diarrhea that lasts longer than 24 hours

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