ilmcdp@yahoo.com
Dr. Alex Smith is featured in a fascinating six-minute video entitled, "The Thickened Liquid Challenge." Similar to the popular ice bucket challenge to raise awareness about Lou Gehrig's Disease, Dr. Smith, San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center, challenges health care providers to take 'the thickened liquid challenge,' experiencing what it is like to drink your ice tea, coffee, coke, orange juice, or water with thickener added. The video pictures several individuals as well as groups of healthcare professionals taking the one-time challenge. Among the responses was a comment that 'it tastes like paste.'
Dr. Smith said very few of the health care professionals who were challenged to drink only thickened liquids for twelve hours succeeded in doing so. Smith weighed this reality against the fact that some persons, especially those living with dementia, are often prescribed 'thickened liquids only' for years!
Evidence from video swallow studies shows that thickened liquids prevent fluid from being aspirated into the lungs, rather than going into the stomach. Beyond that there is "no evidence in real life that putting someone on thickened liquids is more beneficial than harmful." There are some harms associated with thickened liquids, one of which is dehydration!
The final decision, Smith says, should be a very individualized one.
I highly recommend viewing this informative, well-done video here.
http://makingsenseofalzheimers.org/stories/thickended-liquid-challenge/
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