Can You Drink Too Much Water?

Overhydration is rarely a problem for healthy people, but it can still be dangerous.  People with heart or kidney problems can develop symptoms from overhydration.  Overhydration can cause hyponatremia, a severe electrolyte imbalance that can be life-threatening.  You need to drink water to stay hydrated, but it’s best not to overdo it and drink more than you need.

Can You Drink Too Much Water?
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

Staying hydrated is an integral part of being healthy.  Dehydration, or not drinking enough water, can cause uncomfortable symptoms and lead to medical problems.  
Drinking lots of water during the day can help avoid dehydration.  But many people may wonder if drinking too much water can cause medical problems.  Overhydration, or drinking too much water, is rarely a problem for healthy people.  But there are some situations where it can be dangerous.
 
How much water should you drink daily?
Many individuals may remember the old recommendation of 8 glasses or about 2 liters of water per day.  It is no longer recommended because most people get enough water from the foods and liquids they eat and drink throughout the day.  The amount of water you drink to stay hydrated is affected by your:

• Age
• Gender
• Medical conditions
• Physical activity

For most people, drinking water when they feel thirsty may be enough.  The color of your urine can also signify how well hydrated you are.  Clear or light yellow urine usually means you are well-hydrated.  But dark yellow, amber, or brown urine may mean you need to drink more water.
When thinking about staying hydrated, it is essential to remember that some drinks have sugar, like juice, sports drinks, and energy drinks.  While these drinks contain water and can contribute to your hydration, they may not be your healthiest option.  Too much sugar will have adverse effects on your body. For example, drinking sugary beverages can increase your risk of diabetes.  Better choices are:

• Plain water
• Unsweetened tea
• Water flavored with fresh fruit or a small amount of natural fruit juice

 
What happens if you drink less water than you should?
Not drinking enough water is called dehydration.  Mild dehydration can lead to several uncomfortable symptoms such as:

• Dark urine
• Dry mouth or feeling thirsty
• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Severe dehydration can lead to more serious medical issues, like electrolyte imbalances and heart or kidney problems that can be life-threatening.  Symptoms of more severe dehydration can include:

• Confusion
• Lack of urination
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Rapid heart rate

Note:  If you develop symptoms of severe dehydration, it is crucial to get medical care immediately.
 
What happens if you drink more water than you should?
Drinking more water than you should is known as overhydration.  For individuals with healthy kidneys, it is not a problem.  Healthy kidneys can adjust how much water leaves the body as urine.  It allows the body to keep the amount of water it needs and to get rid of the water it does not need.  To develop overhydration, a healthy person would have to drink more than 6 gallons a day.
Nevertheless, some people may have severe consequences from overhydration.  It may be the case if you have a medical condition that causes you to:

• Increase your intake of fluid
• Retain fluid
• Take medications that affect how your kidneys handle fluid

 
Can too much water be dangerous?
Drinking too much water could be dangerous in some circumstances.  Hyponatremia is the most significant risk from overhydration (sodium in the blood is too low).  Sodium is an electrolyte that is integral to your heart and brain function.  Having low sodium will not only disrupt normal body function but can also cause severe swelling in the brain.  When sodium drops slowly or does not go too far below normal levels, your body has time to adjust, so you may not have any symptoms.  In more severe cases of hyponatremia, symptoms can include:

• Headache
• Loss of energy
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea or vomiting

Note:  When hyponatremia happens quickly, it can lead to confusion, seizures, and death.
 
What kind of situations or activities put someone at risk of drinking too much water?
A few situations can put someone with healthy kidneys at risk of drinking too much water.  It includes drinking too much water in a short time during extreme physical activity.  Increasing your water intake regularly over an extended period can also lead to overhydration.
There are clinical cases of people who developed overhydration from drinking water to:

• Avoid a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones
• Get ready for an athletic competition
• Lose weight or feel healthier
• Prevent dehydration from a gastrointestinal (GI) bug
• Treat constipation or poison ingestion

Some individuals have medical conditions that put them at high risk of overhydration.  This is because their kidneys cannot get rid of water normally, or their bodies tend to retain water.  In these cases, overhydration can be a severe problem.  Examples of these conditions include:

• Heart or liver failure
• Kidney failure
• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)

In some cases, antidepressant medications, like selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs), can lead to overhydration.  So can some mental health conditions, like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
If people at risk of overhydration drink more water than their body needs, they can develop:

• Bloating
• High blood pressure
• Leg swelling
• Shortness of breath