Our bodies need to consume enough water to operate correctly, according to health officials. And this is true unless you consume too much. Even though most individuals watch for indicators of dehydration, experts claim that overhydration may be just as deadly. In most cases, drinking too much water only leads to numerous trips to the bathroom, but in rare cases, it might result in severe illness.
Drinking Too Much Water Can Be Bad
Hyponatremia, often known as “water intoxication,” results in unusually low amounts of sodium and other electrolytes in your blood, which can ultimately cause major health issues, including seizures and comas, and, in rare instances, it can be fatal. Here are some of the signs of overhydration.
Always a Water Bottle in Hand
You could be drinking too much water if you always have a water bottle with you and fill it up as soon as it gets low. According to the Mayo Clinic, excessive water intake might cause your blood salt levels to drop too low, which can cause your body’s cells to swell.
Throbbing Headaches
Both overhydration and dehydration can cause headaches. When you consume too much water, your blood’s salt content drops, which causes the cells in your organs throughout your body to inflate. Once more, the brain may be impacted by this. Your cells expand when your salt content is low. Consider this: Your brain expands and pushes against the skull when you consume too much water. A pounding headache and more significant health issues, such as breathing difficulties and brain damage, can result from this extra pressure.
Losing the Urge to Urinate
Because controlling urine is a taught ability, we “potty train” kids early on. However, according to Dr. DeRosa, you may “untrain” that skill if you often overfill your bladder due to excessive drinking or holding it in for an extended period of time. This may make it difficult for you to recognize when you need to urinate or may cause you to feel the urge to urinate even when you don’t.
Diarrhea or Nausea
Experts argue that the signs of overhydration are similar to those of dehydration. When you consume too much water, your kidneys can no longer remove the extra fluid from your body. This causes water to build up in your body. Numerous unpleasant symptoms, frequently including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can result from this.
Swelling or Discoloration
According to Dr. Caudle, persons with hyponatremia frequently have visible edema or discoloration in their hands, lips, and feet. Your skin will begin to noticeably swell when all of the cells in your body enlarge. Due to bloating and too much water in the system, those who drink too much water may abruptly put on weight. Consider reducing your water consumption and seeing whether your symptoms improve if you observe edema or discoloration in your hands, lips, or feet and you drink more than 10 cups of water per day.