STUDY ON PROMOTING FLUID INTAKE FOR PREVENTION OF DEHYDRATION AND HEAT STROKE IN THE ELDERLY

为了探讨预防老年人脱水和中暑的有效补水方法，研究了健康老年人受热前后的水分代谢和口渴评分。本研究进行了2年多，9名老年男性和4名年轻对照受试者参加了驯化研究。在老年组中，总饮水量增加了约9.5%，总尿量减少了约6%。与老年受试者的结果相似，年轻对照组的总饮水量在适应环境后增加了2%，但尿量在适应环境后减少了18%，比老年组更大。热驯化后，两组运动热暴露后的主观口渴评分均增加，但年轻对照组的评分增加幅度更大（p<0.05）。在目前的研究中，老年人似乎通过增加液体摄入量来适应高温。然而，由于出汗导致的水分流失和热适应后的口渴等级，老年人比年轻人低，这表明老年人的水分转换较慢。因此，有必要鼓励老年人养成有意识的饮水习惯。

In order to investigate water supplementation methods effective for the prevention of dehydration and heat stroke in the elderly, the water metabolism and thirst ratings of healthy elderly were studied before and after exposure to heat. This study was carried out over 2 yearsNine elderly males and 4 young control subjects participated in the acclimation study. In the elderly group, the total water intake increased by about 9.5%, and the total urine volume decreased by about 6%. Similar to the results seen in elderly subjects, the total water intake in the young control subjects increased by 2% after acclimation, but the decrease in the urine volume(18%) after acclimation was greater than that in the elderly group. Subjective thirst ratings after sweating with exercise-heat exposure increased after heat acclimation in both groups, but the increment of the rating was greater in the young control subjects (p<0.05).In the present study the elderly appeared to adapt to heat by increasing their fluid intake. However, the water loss due to perspiration and the thirst ratings after heat acclimation were lower in the elderly than in the young subjects, suggesting a slower water turnover in elderly people. Therefore, it is considered necessary to encourage the elderly to develop a deliberate habit of water intake.