Do you drink a sufficient amount of water every day? If yes, then no doubt it is a good habit, but do you know that over-drinking water can be harmful for you. If you drink an excessive amount of water in a day and continue it for a prolonged time, it can cause overhydration. We all know that water is the primary component that plays the most vital role in our body and helps maintain body functions such as temperature regulation, digestion, removal of waste from our stomach, etc. But drinking too much water may prove harmful for your body. Overhydration may lead to a serious disease called hyponatremia that may prove life-threatening.
Here, in this blog, we will talk about causes, symptoms and prevention of overhydration. Knowing all these factors will help you lead a healthy life.
Different Types of Overhydration
There are mainly two types of dehydration that occur:
Water Intoxication
If you drink too much water within a short period, it will intoxicate your body. The reason behind this is that it drops the sodium level of the body and leads to hyponatremia. If you or any of your family members is facing such a situation, you should immediately consult with a doctor because this is an emergency, as the result may turn fatal.
Chronic Overhydration
This situation occurs when a person drinks too much water for a prolonged time. It results in the over-functioning of kidneys and causes different types of kidney-related problems.
What Amount of Water is Considered too Much?
The amount of water a person should take on a daily basis mainly depends on four important factors – age, weight, sex and activity level. Doctors mostly recommended 8 glasses of water in a day. However, if the person feels thirsty, he or she can take water as per their requirements.
According to doctors’ recommendations, a person should not drink more than one liter of water per hour. Drinking water more than this level can lead to overhydration therefore, it is important to focus attention on your thirst and drink water as much as you need to keep your hydrated throughout the day.
Disadvantages of Drinking Too Much Water
- Hyponatremia: This is a serious condition when the sodium level of the body goes down due to overdrinking water, and it leads to coma, seizures, etc.
- Overfunctioning Kidneys: Drinking consistently more than what your body requires can put a strain on your kidneys, which ultimately causes different types of kidney-related health problems.
- Electrolyte Imbalance: When a person drinks too much water, it dilutes the electrolyte levels in the body, including potassium, sodium, and magnesium. This is a condition that leads to muscle cramps, weakness, and irregular heartbeat.
What are Overhydration Symptoms?
Depending on the condition of the body, overhydration symptoms vary from person to person. In mild cases, the symptoms of overhydration will not be that much noticeable while in serious cases, the symptoms can be life-threatening. Now, let’s take a look at the common symptoms of drinking too much water:
- Headache
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Coma
- Seizures
- Muscle cramps
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle weakness
- Swelling and boating
- Tiredness
Remedies for Overhydration
The treatment for overhydration mainly depends on the seriousness of the condition. Those who are experiencing mild symptoms can be treated by making simple changes in lifestyle. On the other hand, in serious cases, patients may require hospitalisation. Take a look at some of the common remedies for hydration –
Lower the Level of Fluid Intake
If you are facing any overhydration symptoms, your first step should be decreasing the intake of fluid, or you should consult with a physician to know the exact amount of water your body needs to stay hydrated. It helps to keep a balance of electrolyte levels.
Replacement of Electrolyte
If you are facing the problem of hyponatremia, your doctor may suggest electrolyte replacement that will help balance sodium levels.
Diuretics
It is a kind of medication that helps the body to remove excess water. This type of medication is applied for treating overhydration in severe cases.
Besides these remedies, you can take certain types of food as a remedy for overhydration that include – banana, coconut water, broth-based soup, and yogurt.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, I hope it becomes clear what happens when you drink too much water. Overhydration is a serious problem that not many people are aware of. But it is important to know how much water is too much and what its possible consequences so you can lead a healthy lifestyle.
