Experts always remind you to drink enough water. You see people having a bottle of water around and sipping often. They are doing the right thing. But, one point you need to be aware of is that overhydration can be as dangerous as dehydration. There is no point in too much of a good thing, so it is with drinking too much water.
Tahoe Springs Water wants you to be healthy and safe. We provide you what overhydration does to you, the signs you should be aware of, and the recommended amount of water you need to drink every day.
Is drinking too much water bad for you?
Yes, it’s a serious problem for you. Professional athletes often drink too much water to prevent dehydration. They have to make up for the lost liquid and tough exercise. But the story is different with you as a normal person.
You drink too much; your kidneys can not eliminate it. The sodium level also becomes diluted. The result is hyponatremia that could cause mild to life-threatening problems.
How to know you are drinking too much water?
You could find out that you’re drinking too much water. Your body sends signals that you can recognize them. They are as follows:
Always tired or fatigued
Are you getting enough sleep but still tired? The one reason could be drinking too much water. According to MayoClinic, overhydration leads to:
- Loss of energy
- Drowsiness,
- A steady feeling of fatigue
Why can overhydration cause this situation? Too much water could imbalance the electrolytes in your body. The imbalance leads to the mentioned symptoms.
What organ takes responsibility for filtering water intake? Yes, your two kidneys take that. They also make sure the fluid levels in your bloodstream stay are well balanced.
Your kidneys are busy enough doing their work. In case you drink too much water, your kidneys have to work harder. The process causes a stressful reaction which makes your body fatigue or tired.
Also, if you have trouble getting out of bed, you could have put too much pressure on your kidneys.
Decrease the water you drink and determine if the situation is due to overhydration or not.
Weak, shaky, or cramped muscles
Studies indicate that too much water could lead to:
- Cramps
- Spasms
- Weakness
A well-functioning body is all about balance. Drinking too much water and sodium in your body gets diluted. It decreases the levels of electrolytes. Now the symptoms could worsen. Having pain in your muscles or legs without exercise or work out could be due to overhydration.
Do you have to see a doctor? Not necessarily. Just reduce the amount of water intake. However, if things didn’t get better by then, visit health care right away. In case you are sure you lack electrolytes, include the following food in your diet:
- Coconut
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Almonds
- Milk
- Bananas
- Olives
- Chicken
- Watermelon
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Regular Headache and nausea
The National Headache Foundation says that reduced sodium intake leads to headaches.
Dehydration and overhydration are both signs of headaches. You drink too much water, the level of salt in your body decreases. It causes the organ cells to swell.
Overhydration also increases the size of your brain. Your brain has to force against the skull. The result is a splitting headache and other issues such as:
- Brain impairment
- Trouble breathing.
That is why you need to think about balance in drinking water.
Nauseous and vomiting
As explained, if you drink too much water, your kidney will work harder to eliminate the waste. In some cases, the kidneys may not be able to eliminate the extra liquid. Now water gathers in the body which can not be eliminated. Your body’s reaction could be:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
See how you feel after drinking water. Determine if your kidneys can get rid of the liquid properly or not. You can take a test to know how well your kidneys are working.
Frequently using the bathroom
According to Healthline, a healthy person often visits the bathroom between 6-10 times a day. Yet, it’s up to:
- Use of medications
- Age
- Fluid intake
- Size of bladder
If you visit the bathroom more than usual, you might be drinking too much water.
Do you wake up in the middle of the night using the bathroom? It could be another sign of overhydration. Your body needs rest at night; You shouldn’t visit the bath bathroom at 2.00 p.m.
To prevent it, drink the last cup of water a few hours before bed. Let your kidneys have time to filter the water through your body.
Remember that other conditions could cause frequent use of the bathroom. Taking too much caffeine is another one. You might have to reduce the amount of coffee or tea.
Other serious problems that cause an irregular visit to the bathroom include but not limited to:
- Bladder infection
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Prostate problems
- A heart condition
- Leg swelling
When the problem doesn’t get better by drinking less water, visit a doctor to diagnose the real cause.
You drink water when you’re not that thirsty
It’s essential to drink enough water during the hot season and while doing exercise. Yet, you could be drinking too much if you drink when you’re not thirsty.
Experts say the balanced way to know if your body needs water is to drink when you are thirsty. It’s a natural mechanism that your body informs you of taking liquid.
The human body has always experienced scarcity. So it knows how to tackle dehydration. You need more water; your body becomes thirstier.
However, be careful not to be thirsty for the long term. Your body’s natural cycle could be interrupted.
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How much water do you need?
The CDC says there is no official regulation on the amount of water a person needs every day.
The right amount of water depends on:
- Age
- Gender
- Bodyweight
- Season
- Job
- Physical activity level
Other factors also determine how much water you should drink—for instance, women who are expecting or breastfeeding need to drink more water.
The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that 15.5 cups of water is enough for men while 11.5 cups are enough for women per day. However, due to a busy lifestyle or forgetting, you might not drink enough water.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of dehydration could help you:
Young child or infants
- No tears when crying
- Dry tongue or mouth
- No wet diapers for longer than three hours
- Sleep problems or irritability
- Sunken eyes
If you would like to know about drinking water before bed, read our article.
Adult
- No regular visits to the bathroom
- Severe thirst
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Bottom line
You and I need water to live and have a healthy life. Health experts insist on drinking enough water every day. Yet, you could be drinking too much water, which is a bad thing for you.
Tahoe Springs Water cares about your health. So we explained what overhydration does to you, the signs and symptoms, and the recommended amount of water for you.
Tahoe Springs Water has been providing water services in Las Vegas since 1994. Since then, we have been producing the best alkaline, Mountain Spring, and purified water in the valley. Call us at +702-903-1433 to get further information on well hydration or order high-quality water.