Why You Shouldn’t Drink Too Much Water

symptoms of drinking too much water

Is It Possible To Consume Too Much Water?

Have you ever wondered about the pros and cons of drinking water?

Did you know that you can overdoes on H2O?

There’s so much marketing behind drinking refreshing and so-called rejuvenating beverages that rehydrating can be more of a fad than a healthy practice. Sometimes, this is the culprit to excessive drinking. This excessiveness is even for fluids we see as beneficial to the body.

The health consciousness many practice also plays a role in drinking more and more on a daily basis.

So What Are the Cons to Drinking Too Much?

If you drink too much fluids, especially in one setting, that drinking can lead to what is known as hyponatremia. Yes, it is a medical condition, and one to be avoided. It describes a disposition when the body no longer contains the right levels of sodium. Sodium is the chemical term for salt.

Bits of it are excreted in sweating.

When hyponatremia occurs, however, the sodium–or salt–in the body is so diluted that it has little affect on the internal human processes. It’s sodium that helps the body to balance the fluids it has. It helps to keep water in blood plasma and other fluids in your cells where they belong.

When that sodium is diluted, water and other fluids begin to flood the body in drastic ways. Cells become swollen due to the excess fluids building up in them.

This can lead to water also building up and expanding parts of the brain.

Symptoms of Hyponatremia To Consider

The result of an overbearing load of fluid, when it doesn’t leave the body, results in bloating. This is related to the expansion of cells as mentioned earlier. If you ever feel bloated, consider how much and how fast you’re drinking water.

From there, things only get worst. Nausea will be present with persistent headaches. You can experience symptoms such as organ failure, seizures or death. These are conditions to be highly concerned with. So be sure to drink water as needed and at a relatively slow pace.

What Causes Hyponatremia

This illness is not caused by drinking too much solely. Drinking too much at one time usually leads to excess urination. In those cases, the water never gets a chance to truly affect the body.

Thirst is also a bad indicator for the conditions of hyponatremia. Once water hits the tongue, the signal or desire for thirst is triggered off immediately. Once we’ve gotten our fluid source, it doesn’t really compel us further.

Drinking water helps in flushing waste, managing body temperature, avoiding constipation and enabling the body to work properly. It’s a natural drive which is why thirst is a bad indicator.

Simply put, hyponatremia occurs when hydration is increased above normal limits at the same time that other medical conditions restrain fluid from exiting the body and its tissues.

The kidneys, for example, are relatively small organs, so excessive drinking can cause water to back up. The two organs can only process up to a liter of water an hour. Anything more can lead to complications when other medical conditions exist.

How to Manage Excessive Water Intake

You first want to stop the intake of fluids as other conditions can cause it to remain in your body. By eating more salt, you’ll reverse the imbalance of internal fluids. There are also medications to help treat the symptoms, but situations of this condition are rare.

It’s often hard to see the difference between heat exhaustion and water intoxication. So be sure to contact a professional doctor if you’re unsure.

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