Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 10, JULY 7, 2008, THE ISLANDER
(News to Q-CeCy
The Best is Yet to Be
By Clark Gillespie M.D.,
Professor Emeritus, the University of Arkansas
Aqua Pura
Like many other of our earth’s
gifts, we only miss our water when
the well runs dry and we then are
left to thirst and to hunt. Sadly, we
have put immense strains upon our
earth’s ability to supply us with pure,
drinkable water and some conser
vationists foresee future wars over
our - and other’s fundamental water
needs.
Be that as it may, you and I cannot
here resolve that rapidly approach
ing issue. We must, instead, turn
right now to today’s reality and look
into our daily senior personal water
(fluid) requirements, and into some
misconceptions about it’s care that
still float (but not on water) in our
midst. Maybe this season of rampant
mid-west flooding is an unfortunate
time to bring it up, but, still, many of
our states are in dire need of potable
- or any kind of water.
We have been pretty well made
aware of some basic human water
facts. We know, for instance, that we
are all largely (60-65%) compounded
out of water, and we need to parsi
moniously stay in water balance and
avoid dehydration. It is established
that when as little as a 15% deficit
occurs in this balance, we are in
a significant and clinically serious
state of dehydration.
Even so, research shows that a
goodly number of us seniors spend a
great deal of our lives in a minimally-
dehydrated (1-2%) state. We tend to
neglect our fluid needs because we
generally have to get up and go get
it, or because it makes us even more
dependant upon a bathroom - any
where - or because our powerful for
getting function is working too well.
Regardless of the reason, our first
/
--U' St. Simons
Familiar. Friendly.
Like Family,
over 40 yearsj
For everything from greeting cards
and beauty products to prescription
drugs and over-the-counter
medications, we hope you’ll continue
to make us your first choice. We
certainly appreciate your business.
Tommy Bryan - Pharmacist/Owner
Andy Ledford - Pharmacist
Longview Shopping Center
Frederica Rd • St. Simons Island
912-638-8676
Open Seven Days
water rule is to keep our tank full.
And, remember, water comes to us
in many pleasant fluid ways. Just
remember that!
Seniors also tend to loose water
balance and become dehydrated more
rapidly and more readily than the
younger set. Because of this fact, we
need to protect our balance by regu
lar and early fluid replenishment in
any warm and hot environments, or
when exercising or physically work
ing up a sweat.
• Meeting our daily fluid needs:
It probably would be better not to
even mention the old 8-glass dic
tum for daily fluids intake since no
one knows from whence it came, no
research supports it, and it can be a
dangerous path to follow.
In actual fact our intake need
varies considerably from person to
person and from day to day - and
understand, we are here only talking
of fluids. Two simple guides will help
us to determine our own daily needs
and state of balance.
• Thirst is a pretty reliable warn
ing that we are low on intake.
• Very light yellow urine from
healthy kidneys generally signal an
adequate intake.
There are other helpful indica
tors - such as a dry skin and mouth
- but the first two are usually ade
quate markers under normal circum
stances. Certain medications such as
diuretics will make us more likely
to dehydrate and will require close
scrutiny. Do not, however, try to
preventively overload with any type
of replacement fluids. This is par
ticularly true for us - especially in the
presence of liver or kidney disorders.
What to drink? Well, we get 80%
of our total fluids from what we drink
so it is important to look at the fluids
offered or available to us.
• Water. That’s an easy one - or
is it? Our tap water is safe to drink,
readily available, and reasonably
priced. It does, however, contain cer
tain chemicals such as fluoride, to
which some of us object.
For this and other taste reasons,
bottled water has reached astronom
ical sales here and abroad. Such
water may come from approved wells,
springs, and even regular, but fur
ther purified and chemically-denud
ed tap water. Importantly, some such
bottled water has had sulfites added
for preservative reasons and could be
harmful to sulfite-sensitive seniors.
Labels should provide that infor
mation. In general, and disregarding
its immense environmental impact,
bottled water produced in our coun
try is pretty well regulated. It is also
conveniently carried around, socially
guzzle-able, and is very stylish and
in.
• Sports or energy drinks: These
generally all contain caffeine, sugar,
and other chemicals. Some are very
acidic and can do damage to dental
enamel. Read the labels and keep
such drinks to a minimum. Regular
soft drinks are also acidic as well as
caloric.
• Plain fruit and vegetable juices:
Such wonderful fluids are lightly
caloric and are nutritious.
There are many myths and
untruths about water drinking. Cool
water is most acceptable because it
is palatable, but there is no harm in
drinking warm or cold water no mat
ter what the internet spouts.
There exists absolutely no clinical
evidence that drinking cold water
after a meal increases the risk of can
cer, although such a claim is appar
ently widely circulated. Ice water can
be a cause of weight loss or weight
gain depending upon whom you mis
read. And so on - these examples are
just the tip of the, ah, iceberg .
Sadly, one liquid intake that needs
to be minimized is alcohol since that
jovial fluid is a diuretic and thus
makes us loose other fluids.
Remember those mornings after?
That issue, though, reminds me of
an adult song that was immensely
popular when I was a little one. It
ended something like this -
“Yawnro, yawnro, I’m dying for a
drink!
Yawnro, yawnro, there’s water in
the sink.
Well, who in hell wants water
when they’re dying for a drink?”
Cheers! □
Tips to protect your eyes from the sun
• Don't focus on color or darkness
of sunglass lenses: Select sunglasses
that block UV rays. Don't be deceived
by color or cost. The ability to block
UV light is not dependent on the price
tag.
• Check for 97-100% UV protection:
Make sure your sunglasses block 97 to
100 percent of UV-A rays and UV-B
rays.
• Choose wrap-around styles: Ide
ally, your sunglasses should wrap all
the way around to your temples, so the
sun's rays can't enter from the side.
• Wear a hat: In addition to your
sunglasses, wear a broad-brimmed
hat to protect your eyes.
• Don't rely on contact lenses: Even
if you wear contact lenses with UV
protection, remember your sunglass
es.
• Don't be fooled by clouds: The
sun's rays can pass through haze and
thin clouds. Sun damage to eyes can
occur anytime during the year, not
just in the summertime. □
Caribbean Tan Day Spa
Tanning Special for July:
One Monfh of Unli/viifed Tanning
in Any Tanning Bed
including ftand lip for $40
Offer available through July 31
(pa (apade Special:
50% Off All fpa (apiule
kffiom fhrough July 14
4420 Altama Avenue • Suite 40 • Brunswick
(The same Mall as Big Lots) • 912-267-9900
www.contoursexpress.com/brunswickga