Drinking Too Much Water? Here Are Side Effects Of Over Hydration
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Hydration and the value of water don't need an introduction. It maintains the body's water balance and aids in the removal of toxins, resulting in general hydration. However, do you know that consuming too much water might harm our bodies? "Drinking more water than usual tends to raise your overall blood volume and puts pressure on your kidneys to work overtime to filter extra water out of your circulatory system," says Parmeet Kaur, senior dietician at Narayana Hospital in Gurugram. This could overtax the heart, aggravate the stomach, and result in water intoxication.

What is water intoxication?

According to specialists, excessive water consumption might result in a condition called water intoxication. It throws off the body's electrolyte balances and can lower blood sodium levels, which can result in hyponatremia.

Here are some symptoms of water intoxication-

  • People who drink too much water frequently feel queasy and drowsy as a result of their body's electrolyte balance.
  • Every day, people deal with throbbing headaches. A headache is brought on by the body's excess water retention, which makes the cells enlarge and lowers the body's salt levels.
  • Your kidneys must work extra hard to eliminate too much water when you consume too much of it. People could occasionally feel worn out and lost as a result of this.
  • You'll notice swelling or discolouration of the lips, palms, and feet when you're overhydrated. In essence, you might also notice some swelling in your skin along with the enlargement of the cells.

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Hyponatremia

As was previously discussed, consuming too much water can cause the body's salt levels to drop. The term "hyponatremia" refers to this medical condition. Hyponatremia is thought to be more likely in people with heart and kidney disorders.

Muscle cramps

Drinking too much water dilutes the levels of sodium and other electrolytes in the blood, which lowers the body's sodium levels. Muscle cramps and other health problems including low salt levels in the body may result.

Frequent Urination

Consuming too much water causes the kidneys to work constantly because it causes extra urine. This causes a water imbalance in the body and further dehydrates it. Furthermore, research indicates that often urinating stresses our kidneys.

Affects liver

Water, which frequently has a high iron concentration, may harm the liver. We are aware that the body needs iron to carry oxygen in the blood. Contrary to water, iron is often obtained via food that is readily absorbed by the body. Iron is difficult for the body to absorb from the water, further compromising liver health.

Diarrhoea

Hypokalemia, or a drop in potassium levels in the body, is brought on by overhydration. There could be persistent sweating and diarrhoea as a result. An article on the Cleveland Clinic website claims that hypokalemia frequently directly affects our digestive system and results in symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea.