Can You Drink Too Much Water?

When considering how much water to drink a day, most people want to know how much more water they need to add to their daily routines to stay healthy and hydrated. For those focusing on staying healthy through exercise and making a conscious effort to eat healthy, it raises the question is it possible to drink too much water?

Though not very common, it is possible to drink too much water. Drinking too much water can cause a condition called hyponatremia, in which there is an imbalance of water to salt in the body. This occurs when your kidneys cannot process the excess water diluting electrolytes which results in low salt levels in the blood.

The onset of hypoanatremia from too much water intake is rare and can be caused by other factors.

Symptoms of Hypoanatremia

If you fear that you may be experiencing hypoanatremia you may be experiencing the following symptoms:

Confused mental state
Convulsions
Fatigue
Headache
Irritability
Loss of Appetite
Muscle Cramps and Weakness
Nausea and Vomiting

There are several tests that your doctor can perform to ascertain if hypoanatremia is the cause of your symptoms including blood tests and urine analysis.

How to Avoid Hypoanatremia

For very athletic people who may have a higher instance of excessive water intake, replacing lost fluids with drinks that contain electrolytes, generally marketed as sports drinks, can help to stave off the condition.

University of Michigan Health System UMIM: Healing Foods Pyramid - Water http://www.med.umich.edu/umim/food-pyramid/water.htm

Military.comCan I Die from Drinking Too Much Water?http://www.military.com

"Can You Drink Too Much Water?." Sophisticated Edge. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.sophisticatededge.com/can-you-drink-too-much-water.html>.

Quote: "When you read about people who die or get kidney damage "from drinking too much water" you are only hearing half of the story. . . These people die or are seriously injured internally from over-hydration with insufficient replacement of sodium, which is called dilutional hyponatremia. The documented cases are from participants in long distance running or ultra endurance events lasting longer than four hours of continuous, sweaty, activity."

Source: Stew Smith; Can I Die from Drinking Too Much Water?
Military.com

.The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. It is not meant to take the place of health care or services you may need. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your health.