Overhydration Side Effects: We always hear that water should be drunk in plenty. Lack of water in the body can cause many diseases. It maintains water balance in the body and helps in flushing out toxins, thereby providing complete nutrition. But do you know that drinking more water can also have negative effects on our bodies? Yes, of course, it can happen. Drinking more water than normal increases your total blood volume and also forces your kidneys to work overtime to filter out the extra water. Apart from this, it can also put more burden on the heart and can increase the burning sensation in the stomach. Apart from this, water intoxication can also happen.
What is overhydration?
According to experts, water intoxication is a condition caused by drinking too much water. It disturbs the electrolyte balance in the body and can lower the sodium level in the blood, leading to a condition called hyponatremia.
What are the symptoms of overhydration?
Nausea- Due to electrolyte imbalance in the body, people who drink more water often feel drowsy and feel like vomiting.
Headache- People experience throbbing headaches throughout the day. Excess water in the body causes the salt level in the body to go down and the cells to swell, which leads to a headache.
Fatigue – Drinking too much water makes your kidneys have to work harder to remove the extra amount. This can make people feel tired and distracted at times.
Skin discolouration. With overhydration, you may notice swelling or discolouration of the feet, hands, and lips. Basically, along with the inflammation of the cells, you may also experience some swelling in your skin.
Drinking too much water is called overhydration.
Health experts and nutritionists suggest that our daily water intake depends on various factors including age, gender, body weight, activity level, metabolism and medication. The water intake level also depends on our environmental conditions.
How much water should be drunk in a day?
Experts have established guidelines for adequate water intake, which state that a healthy adult should take in about 9 to 13 cups of liquid per day on average.
Here are the side effects of drinking too much water:
1. Hyponatremia-
As mentioned earlier, drinking more water can lower the sodium levels in the body. This health condition is called hyponatremia. People with heart and kidney conditions are termed to be at higher risk of hyponatremia.
2. Muscle cramps-
One study states that consuming more water dilutes the sodium and other electrolytes in the blood, thereby reducing the sodium status in the body. Low sodium levels in the body can lead to health problems like muscle cramps.
3. Frequent urination-
Excessive water intake leads to excessive urination; Meaning, when you consume a lot of water, the kidney works continuously. This further dehydrates the body and creates an imbalance of water. Also, studies show that frequent urination puts a strain on our kidneys.
4. Affects the liver-
Water, which is often high in iron, can negatively affect the liver. We know that the body needs iron to transport oxygen in the blood. We generally get iron from food which is easily absorbed by the body. However, it is the exact opposite of water. The body cannot easily absorb iron from water, which affects the health of the liver.
5. Diarrhea-
Overhydration can lead to hypokalemia or decreased potassium levels in the body. This can cause diarrhoea and prolonged sweating. According to a report, hypokalemia often directly affects our digestive system, causing problems like vomiting and diarrhoea.
