Drinking too much water can harm..
By maurya83
@maurya83 (923)
India
June 7, 2012 2:14am CST
We all know that water is our's body's most essential nutrient, required for almost all nutrients to work properly. we also know , we should intake a plenty of water because our body can not make it in sufficient quantities to satisfy all metabolic needs. But many few of us know, drinking too much water can be harmful. I came to know this fact recently while reading some articles. We all know about the harms of lacking water in body which is called "dehydration". Here I want to share with you about the opposite case called- "HYPERHYDRATION or WATER INTOXICATION". yes its just opposite case of 'dehydration'. It occurs when we drink excessive amount of water. When we hyperhydrate, we can get a condition called- hyponatrimia. with this problem the water dilutes the sodium in our bloodstream. Because sodium plays a major role in the fluid balance of cells, dilution of sodium can be dangerous.
Symptoms of hyperhydration may be mild and can include bloating, nausea, headaches and vomiting. More severe symptoms can include coma, brain swelling, respiratory arrest or sometimes death.
Now the next question arises, how much water should we drink? Friends, I really dont want to scare you but answer is not easy because everybody not have the same hydration needs. The old adage eigth 8-ounce glasses is one way to approach daily requirement. Another way is balance your water intake with how much you lose. for eg., the average person's urine volume is 1.5 liter/day, add to that amount a second liter, which is used up by metabolism.
Overall, most people drink enough water to suit their needs and should not worry about how much water they are drinking per day.. have a good day :)
2 people like this
7 responses
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
7 Jun 12
Thanks for the information. There are no other fluid that can help us cleanse our body but water. Yes you are right too much water can cause swelling to cells due to osmosis. You are right sodium will eveltually leaves our cells causing harm to us.
Some say that taking 1-2 glasses of water daily is the real recommendation of water intake to avoid dehydration.
good day.
1 person likes this
@Chikezie (385)
• Malaysia
7 Jun 12
This is a great knowledge today, I have learnt from you Maurya83. Never knew that much water intake could lead to serious health implication. I only knew of the side effect of less water intake but not the way you presented it today. Hyponatrima as disease condition attached to hyperhydration. I do know that daily average water requirement per individual is 1.5litre. As you on peculiar cases every individual has water requirement. I think people should even try drinking the required amount and not drink only when they are tasting. I known individual that rarely took water in a single day because of the humidity. Humidity level also places demand on water need of the human system. Lets drink water as it is being said water is life.
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
7 Jun 12
Ya drink too much water in short time cause your my heart to skip some beats almost have a heartattack. Personally i think quite a lot like 2 liter per day because i sweat a lot, i read at least 8 glass per day is recommended.I sometime eat alot of fruits too , there are water juice in them also.THe are sign of dehydration like body pain , headache , nausea and dizzy , then better sit down find some shade and drink water.
@toniganzon (77064)
• Philippines
7 Jun 12
I think this isn't a very common case especially in a tropical country like ours where people sweat every single day even without doing much activity.
Anyway, this is a good information and yes people need not worry as long as they pee and do physical activities they'll surely not overdose with water. 
@rog0322 (2828)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
7 Jun 12
Hi:
I drink water only when I'm thirsty, say after I work in the office, and after every meal. My water intake per drink averages half a liter mostly, and at the rate I take it, it all amounts to three or four litres over a twelve hour period, from the morning until I retire at around eleven at night, drinking one last glass before that.
I follow the natural thirst so I don't have to worry about over hydration, just the normal need as it arises.
1 person likes this
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
7 Jun 12
Thank you for the information. I thinkit depends of the people daily activities some people are very active, other is sort of flooding of sweating his/her body because water coming out. Other are just setting in the chair and waiting for urinazation period (only outlet).. From there people can determine how much water he/she can take... but water in the best for our body only problem is how it will use rightly. All TOO MUCH are dangerous...
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
7 Jun 12
My way is different my friend. In the morning after I wake up I seen my urine very high orange color or yellowist from there I know what to do, before reach 11AM for sure my urine is almost colorless because I drink plenty of water. Then before I sleep I see to it to drink water again...
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
7 Jun 12
I do not think that there is one universal answer for how much water a person needs to drink to be healthy or how much is too much and therefore unhealthy. I think that much of it depends on the person, his or her metabolism, physical exertion, overall health, medications, weather, etc. I know people that have to drink lots of water, because they get easily dehydrated. Other people are only allowed to drink one or two glasses of water a day, although they need to drink plenty of other fluid (just not water), in order to stay healthy as the water removes too much sodium, potassium and other minerals from their bodies.
