Hydration

Dehydration and Hallucinations

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

Approximately one year ago I wrote about my mom experiencing hallucinations after a severe bout of diarrhea.

Here is the past article for your review:

https://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/1986.cfm

My 91 year mom is now living with my wife and I.

She was put on a diuretic and shortly following the administration of the diuretic the hallucinations started again.

A urinalysis indicated severe dehydration.

The Higher the Specific Gravity the Greater Likelihood of Dehydration

Urine specific gravity (USG) is a non-invasive measure of dehydration that can indicate severe dehydration when it's greater than 1.035:

Normal: 1.005–1.020
Dehydration: 1.020–1.030
Severe dehydration: 1.035–1.055

The following photo will provide the color of the urine to evaluate for dehydration.

From https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/

Severe dehydration can cause hallucinations, which are false perceptions of sensory experiences. Dehydration can cause hallucinations by leading to delirium, a mental disturbance that can cause hallucinations, confusion, and changes in consciousness.

Dehydration can also cause hallucinations by leading to hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when the body excretes sodium and electrolytes to compensate for lower osmotic pressure. Hyponatremia can cause cerebral tissue swelling, which can lead to hallucinations or coma.

Do to the seriousness of her dehydration I took her for a saline IV drip therapy with appropriate administration of electrolytes.

Intravenous (IV) therapy with saline and electrolytes can be an effective way to treat severe dehydration.

My mom received the IV drip with electrolytes for three hours.

It was amazing to see a return of my mom's cognitive functions.

He significantly improved and the hallucinations stopped.

When dehydration reaches the point of causing hallucinations, emergency medical intervention is required. Failure to restore the osmotic balance in the body can lead to organ failure and permanent brain damage. Moreover, the changes in mental capacity leading up to this point can further exacerbate dehydration.

Facts to Know

Water makes up 60 to 70 percent of our body weight. But shockingly, up to 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated—especially seniors.

Thirst isn't always a reliable indicator that your body is dehydrated.

Signs of dehydration
How can you tell if you're dehydrated? Start by checking the color of your urine. Clear or pale yellow urine usually means you're drinking enough water. But if your urine is dark yellow or amber, then it's time to drink more water.

Other signs of dehydration to watch for include:
Bad breath
Less urine than usual
Dry mouth and swollen tongue
Feeling sluggish or tired
Cravings for sweets

Seek immediate medical attention for symptoms of severe symptom dehydration which may include:

Confusion
Dizziness
Fainting
Heart palpitations
Hallucinations

5 Ways to Respond to Your Loved One's Hallucinations

As a son of a mom with early stage dementia and again having severe dehydration, it is important to know how to help a scared and frightened person having hallucinations.

To be quite honest, I felt bad for my mom and wanted to comfort her when she was not sure why she was seeing things that simply were not there.

The following are appropriate action steps to help a loved one when having hallucinations while the root cause of the hallucinations are being addressed.

#1: Remove Possible Triggers From the Environment
Hallucinations are not always all in the head. Sometimes there are environmental triggers to consider.

Sounds can be hallucination triggers. Do what you can to reduce or eliminate easily mistakable sounds such as the TV or an air conditioner.

Nighttime hallucinations in elderly people are common and this can often be linked to shadows.

Shadows can easily confuse someone prone to hallucinations so try and reduce them. Look around and see if there are shadows that look like something specific and do what you can to move objects around to eliminate the shadow.

#2: Stay Calm and Don't Be Contradictory
Telling a loved one that what they are experiencing isn't real might seem like the easiest and kindest reaction to a hallucination, but you should not do this.

Especially if the hallucination is linked to dementia, someone experiencing this type of event is not able to rationalize that what they are seeing or experiencing is not real.

Remain calm and collected and do not attempt to use logic or reason to convince them that they are hallucinating.

#3: Provide Reassurance and Validate Their Feelings
While you are staying calm, provide reassurance to the person experiencing the hallucination. Let them know that you are there to support them.

If they seem to be gaining joy from the hallucination, you might try saying something like “I see that you are happy! I am so glad that what you are experiencing is bringing you joy!”

If their hallucination is frightening, you might respond with something like “I can see that you are scared. I am sorry that you are experiencing something so scary. I am here for you. How can I help you feel safe?”

If they seem confused or disoriented, you might respond with “I can tell that you feel confused. How can I best help you?”

Simply being present with your loved one through the hallucination can go a long way in helping them cope.

#4: Distract and Redirect
Distraction and redirection are powerful tools that you can use to help someone experiencing a hallucinations. Do your best to take their attention off of the hallucination by directing them to something they enjoy.

For instance, you could suggest:

Going for a walk
Doing a puzzle
Having a snack
Doing a chore or other task that makes them feel successful
Looking through old family albums
Singing their favorite song (if they are religious, a song they know from church might be especially helpful)

You can also try taking their attention off of the hallucination and placing it on you. For instance:

If they are hearing voices — talk to them. It will be harder to make out those voices if they are listening to yours.
If they see something — make eye contact. Help them to look you in the eyes and gently hold their attention. This might help the hallucination to fade or even disappear.
If they feel something — try holding their hand or offering a hug. Diverting their attention to you might help.

How to Prevent Dehydration and How Much Is Enough?

To prevent dehydration, you should always ensure that you drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables, especially if you live in a hot climate. As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to consume at least 6 to 8 cups of water each day, and more if you are participating in vigorous exercise.

No doubt you've heard that the typical recommendation for daily water and fluid needs is 64 ounces—or eight glasses—daily. But, there's more to the story...

The Importance of Water and Electrolytes
Of course, our bodies also need electrolytes. These are key minerals—like sodium, potassium, and magnesium—that regulate multiple functions, including our heartbeat, blood pressure, fluid balance, and muscle contractions.
And yes, dehydration can lead to an electrolyte imbalance.

So, in addition to staying properly hydrated through plain water, be sure to focus on those key minerals as well. The good news is, eating fruits and veggies can help you avoid an electrolyte imbalance, while also keeping you hydrated.

After all, for most folks, around 20 percent of their daily water intake comes from foods. So, here are ten options with the highest water content:

Cucumbers: 96 percent water
Tomatoes: 95 percent water
Spinach: 93 percent water
Watermelon: 92 percent water
Mushrooms: 92 percent water
Cantaloupe and honeydew melon: 91 percent water
Broccoli: 90 percent water
Peaches: 88 percent water
Brussels Sprouts: 86 percent water
Coconut water

The Bottom Line
We all lose water daily through sweat, bathroom breaks, and more. And it can be easy to let your fluid intake fall by the wayside, especially if you keep busy.

Three Good Tips to Increase Hydration

Tip #1: Simply do it and Increase your water intake.
Tip #2: Add some flavor.
If you're looking for some flavor, go ahead and enjoy some herbal tea and flavored seltzers.
Tip #3: Keep track.
Keeping a daily log on paper or a wearable device, such as a Fitbit, can help make proper hydration a habit.

Dr. Grisanti's Comments:

My mom is doing significantly better since we are staying on her to be certain she is getting the optimal amount of water and other hydration measures.

Her primary physician has also reduced her diuretics by 50%.

As of today she is doing better.

My wife and I will be checking her urine for color and specific gravity and of course monitor any time sensitive symptoms indicating a return of the dehydration.

My reason for sharing this article is to be certain that any one caring for an elderly loved one does not miss the symptoms of dehydration which can life-shattering and life threatening.

I would suggest purchasing a Urinalysis Strips Test Kit and measure the specific gravity. The higher the specific gravity the higher likelihood of dehydration.

References:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217192400.htm
https://www.relias.com/blog/is-dehydration-affecting-your-clients-minds
https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/healtharticle.10-warning-signs-of-dehydration
https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/can-dehydration-impair-cognitive-function
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986442/
https://caregiver.com/articles/hydration-and-delirium/
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/drinking-hydration
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6603652/
https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/mild-dehydration-is-it-causing-memory-loss-depression-anxiousness-or-focus-problems/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217192400.htm

** Always consult with a physician or healthcare practitioner with significant integrative or functional medicine training before starting any of the above recommendations.

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com for more information on our training in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University's Certification Program (CFMP).

Potential Risks of Distilled Water

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

While distilled water is the purest type of water, it's not necessarily the healthiest.

The distillation process is very effective at removing potentially harmful contaminants, but it also removes the natural minerals and electrolytes found in water.

If you drink distilled water, be aware that it may have some drawbacks. The lack of minerals could prove problematic if you aren't getting them from another dietary source. In addition, the water might cause intestinal discomfort.

Along with unwanted impurities, beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium are also left behind as the steam rises during the distillation process.

In fact, distillation typically removes around 99.9% of all minerals found in tap water.

The lack of naturally occurring minerals, such as sodium, chloride and potassium, in distilled water can pose a negative health effect. These minerals are known as electrolytes.

Therefore, your body is forced to give electrolytes to the mineral and nutrient-free water. With this, your electrolyte level will slowly decrease and eventually cause electrolyte imbalance in your body.

To sum up, if you drink distilled water consistently, you are putting your health at risk. It has no sufficient amount of minerals and nutrients that can protect your body against diseases and illnesses. Second, it can potentially lead to certain health problems such as bone deformities, digestive tract disorders, and even blood-related sickness.

I personally believe the best source of drinking water is spring water.

Of course I expect some debate about my opinion but spring water from a reliable source has proven to have many health benefits.

Here are some valuable benefits:

Balancing the pH of your body
Natural source of necessary minerals

How to choose a good spring water brand?

The points to remember when choosing a water company are as follows:

Determine how long they are in the business
The source of water
Does the water pass purification and tests
Is there a water test report available (especially on their website)
Does the bottle have the label of the brand?

Dehydration and Poor Cognitive Performance

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

Many elderly people simply do not drink enough water.

I discovered this firsthand when my 90-year-old mother began living in an assisted living facility.

After approximately two weeks my mother's short-term memory began to falter and to make matters worse she began hallucinating.

After a severe bout of diarrhea ( viral bug) she started seeing people in her room that simply were not there.

This really rattled me because prior to admittance into the assisted living facility she had full mental function.

Of course I do not blame anything on the assisted living facility.

It was the fact that she was not in her own environment. This consisted of steady stream of water encouraged by my younger brother.

Once we increased her water intake her mental capability significantly improved and the hallucinations stopped.

Facts to Know

Water makes up 60 to 70 percent of our body weight. But shockingly, up to 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated—especially seniors.

Typical signs of dehydration include having a dry mouth, producing less or dark-colored urine, feeling fatigued, tired, dizzy, faint, or lightheaded, rapid heart rate or suffering from muscle cramps.

Studies show that you only need to be 1% dehydrated to experience a 5% decrease in cognitive function. A 2% decrease in brain hydration can result in short term memory loss and have trouble with math computations. Prolonged dehydration causes brain cells to shrink in size and mass, a condition common in many elderly who have been dehydrated for years.

There are many debilitating symptoms that come hand in hand with dehydration and it's important that you are able to recognise the tell tail signs so that treatment can be given straight away.

Thirst isn't always a reliable indicator that your body is dehydrated.

Mental symptoms of dehydration can include:

Depression
Afternoon fatigue
Sleep issues
Focus and concentration worsen
Short-term and working memory decline
Lack of mental clarity, sometimes referred to as “brain fog.”
Hallucinations

Since the brain cannot store water and you are constantly losing water through perspiration and other body functions, it's essential that you continuously hydrate. You'll be able to think faster, focus more clearly and experience greater clarity when your brain is functioning on a full reserve of water

Dehydration can be incredibly dangerous, particularly in the elderly.

There are a number of serious negative health effects resulting from dehydration including:

Seizures
In extreme cases, dehydration can also lead to seizures. This occurs in patients that lose more than 10 percent of their body weight in fluid.

Kidney problems
If you experience repeated bouts of dehydration, this can cause a number of kidney issues including kidney failure, kidney stones or kidney infections. loss of consciousness.

How to Prevent Dehydration and How Much Is Enough?

No doubt you've heard that the typical recommendation for daily water and fluid needs is 64 ounces—or eight glasses—daily. But, there's more to the story...

After all, for most folks, around 20 percent of their daily water intake comes from foods. So, here are ten options with the highest water content:

Cucumbers: 96 percent water
Tomatoes: 95 percent water
Spinach: 93 percent water
Watermelon: 92 percent water
Mushrooms: 92 percent water
Cantaloupe and honeydew melon: 91 percent water
Broccoli: 90 percent water
Peaches: 88 percent water
Brussels Sprouts: 86 percent water
Coconut water

The Bottom Line
We all lose water daily through sweat, bathroom breaks, and more. And it can be easy to let your fluid intake fall by the wayside, especially if you keep busy.

Three Good Tips to Increase Hydration

Dr. Grisanti's Comments:

My mom is doing significantly better since we are staying on her to be certain she is getting the optimal amount of water and other hydration measures

References:

https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/can-dehydration-impair-cognitive-function
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986442/
https://caregiver.com/articles/hydration-and-delirium/
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/drinking-hydration
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6603652/
https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/mild-dehydration-is-it-causing-memory-loss-depression-anxiousness-or-focus-problems/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217192400.htm

** Always consult with a physician or healthcare practitioner with significant integrative or functional medicine training before starting any of the above recommendations.

You can find a qualified and certified functional medicine practitioner by going to: www.FunctionalMedicineDoctors.com

Dehydration and Hallucinations

Dehydration and Hallucinations

Potential Risks of Distilled Water

Potential Risks of Distilled Water

Dehydration and Poor Cognitive Performance

Dehydration and Poor Cognitive Performance

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