- With Mayo Clinic geriatrician
Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
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Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
"The Internet will impact the lives of all patients young and old. Older and mature patients are no exception to this information explosion." — Dr. Takahashi
Dr. Paul Yoshio Takahashi works with elderly patients as a member of the geriatric consultative group at Mayo Clinic. He works in all medical settings, including the outpatient clinic, the hospital, the nursing home and occasionally the patient's home. He is especially interested in strategies for successful aging, preventing elder abuse and mistreatment, and cognitive screening in elderly patients.
Dr. Takahashi is a consultant, Department of Medicine, Division of Community Medicine, at Mayo Clinic. He is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He had a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine from 1997 to 1998.
Dr. Takahashi cares for all of a patient's acute needs and chronic problems and focuses on specialty issues such as memory problems, safety in the home, healthy aging, proper medications and end-of-life concerns.
He sees the Internet playing a growing role in the health information field.
"Patients and their families want and expect the most up-to-date information about life, health, disease and death. Healthy aging as a concept has grown quickly over the last 20 years as we have all lived longer and hopefully better," he says. "I expect that Mayo Clinic will be a significant part of this growing movement of a healthy maturity."
Dr. Takahashi, a native of Pittsfield, Ill., joined Mayo Clinic in 1998 and is board certified in internal medicine with added qualification in geriatric medicine. He is a fellow of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Question
Dry mouth in older adults: Causes and treatments
I'm 72 years old, and my mouth is dry all the time. What causes this? Is there anything I can do?
Answer
from Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
Dry mouth is common in older adults. Mouth dryness may have many causes. As you get older, your salivary glands may secrete less saliva. Thirst and your perception of thirst also can change with aging. Thirst receptors in your brain become less responsive to your body's need for fluids. For this reason, older adults are at increased risk of dehydration.
A common, reversible cause of dry mouth is a side effect of medication. Many medications can cause dry mouth, including:
- Antihistamines
- Antidepressants
- High blood pressure medications
- Drugs for urinary incontinence
- Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer
Talk to your doctor about the possibility that medications you take may cause mouth dryness. Rarely, certain autoimmune disorders, such as Sjogren's syndrome, may cause dry mouth.
Methods to reduce mouth dryness include:
- Sucking on sugar-free lozenges or chewing sugar-free gum, which can stimulate saliva production
- Keeping hydrated by sipping water frequently
- Using a humidifier while you sleep
- Avoiding caffeinated drinks
- Avoiding chewing tobacco
Signs and symptoms of inadequate fluid intake include less frequent urination and dizziness on standing or changing from lying to sitting. These may occur if your thirst mechanism isn't adequately reflecting your fluid needs. Your doctor may recommend a specific plan for fluid intake.
