What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Too Much Water?

As counterintuitive as it may sound, it is possible to have too much water in your body. However, this is a rare occurrence. Dehydration, or having too little water, is far more prevalent. When there's too much water in the body, a condition known as overhydration can set in. And it can be quite dangerous to one's health in some situations.

What happens if you drink more water than you should?

Overhydration occurs when there is more water in the body than necessary. In general, healthy individuals don't need to be concerned about consuming excessive amounts of water. Kidneys in good health regulate the amount of water that is excreted in the urine. The kidneys regulate the body's water balance by storing what's necessary and flushing out what's not. Overhydration is uncommon in healthy people; it takes drinking more than 6 gallons per day, on average.

However, some persons are more prone to the effects of overhydration. Because of the electrolyte imbalance it generates, this can have fatal effects. Sodium, potassium, and calcium are all examples of electrolytes. They ensure that your vital organs, blood, and brain continue to operate as they should. Your neurons and muscles also need electrolytes. Therefore, excessive water intake is harmful since it lowers blood electrolyte concentrations.

Can drinking too much water be dangerous?

In some situations, consuming an excessive amount of water might be harmful. It's potentially fatal. Overhydration poses the biggest risk of hyponatremia. This condition arises when blood sodium levels are dangerously low. Extreme water consumption can cause salt levels in the body to drop dangerously low.

Even healthy people, and especially athletes, can experience overhydration. This is because salt is lost through sweat during prolonged or severe exercise, which increases the risk of this happening. The salt levels in the body can drop precipitously if the person then consumes a lot of water. Exertion-induced hyponatremia describes this condition.

As was previously discussed, sodium is a vital electrolyte for the functioning of the heart and brain. As if its effects on regular body function weren't bad enough, low sodium also causes severe edema in the brain. Because your body has time to acclimate to the change, you may not experience any symptoms at all if your salt level declines gradually. However, when hyponatremia occurs suddenly, it can cause a range of symptoms from moderate to severe. 

What are common symptoms of drinking too much water?

Overhydration symptoms may first resemble other conditions, such as heat exhaustion or a gastrointestinal virus. The following are some of the symptoms: 

• Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
• Headache
• Energy dissipation
• Stiff muscles 

Rapid onset and progression of hyponatremia can cause serious symptoms that demand prompt medical intervention. Among these are:

Disorientation Seizures Comatose

How much water should you drink each day?

The previous rule of thumb was 8 glasses, or around 2 liters, of water each day, and many people may remember this. Most people today get enough water through the foods they consume and the beverages they drink, therefore this is no longer advised. Water-containing beverages, such as coffee or tea, and food, such as fruits and vegetables, can help you stay hydrated. 

Depending on a number of factors, the amount of water you need to drink to be hydrated can vary.

• Clinical Conditions by Age and Sex
• Movement and Exercise

Many folks find that simply quenching their thirst with water does the trick. You can tell how well hydrated you are by the color of your urine. Urine that is colorless or pale yellow is a good indicator of adequate fluid intake. Urine that is a dark yellow or amber color, on the other hand, may indicate a lack of hydration. In addition, dark urine is a more serious warning sign of an underlying health issue. 

What kind of situations put someone at risk of drinking too much water?

A person with normally functioning kidneys can drink too much water in a few specific scenarios. Overhydration occurs when an excessive amount of water is consumed in a short period of time, such as during strenuous physical exercise or for the purpose of treating another medical condition. Overhydration can also result from drinking more water than usual on a consistent basis for an extended length of time.

• People who drank too much water have been reported to have these symptoms:
• Keep yourself from getting dehydrated when fighting off a GI infection.
• Stay away from kidney stones and UTIs.
• For use in relieving constipation or poisoning
• Get in shape for an upcoming sporting event.
• Get in better health and/or lose weight

Can overhydration be treated?

It is possible to treat overhydration. If your health is otherwise good and your symptoms are moderate, reducing the amount of liquids you consume may help. In a few hours, you should begin to feel better. 

More severe symptoms, such as disorientation, warrant urgent medical intervention. Medical professionals will administer a salt water solution intravenously to determine your blood sodium levels. The medical staff will keep a careful eye on you to make sure you're improving. Every few hours, they will check your blood for sodium levels. Overhydration is treatable, and full recovery is possible with prompt diagnosis and care.