Can drinking too much water be harmful to your health?

We know that water is important for our bodies. It’s the best alternative for good digestion, waste elimination, clear skin and many other purposes.

Without water, we basically can’t survive.

According to H.H. Mitchell in the Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79% and even the bones are watery at 31%.

We therefore can’t deny that water is at the core of healthy living but did you know that too much of it can actually be toxic for the body?

Previously, we didn’t think that it’s possible to drink too much water but research shows that it can have dire consequences when you consume it excessively.

Below are some of the reasons why you should always stay within the recommended amount.

The kidneys usually functions with a certain balance. They need to function well so that fluid balance is maintained and toxic substances are eliminated from the body. When someone drinks too much water, the two processes clash especially because water has turned into the toxic substance as it is affecting the balance. In this case, the kidneys are overworked and can lead to more complications especially if you already have underlying kidney problems.

Something as simple as water can lead to severe brain damage when consumed in high amounts. The imbalance that’s created under these conditions causes cells to swell even within the brain. This will cause a number of brain problems like seizures and even comas in extreme scenarios. Therefore drinking too much water especially in one go, puts you at risk of brain damage.

Vomiting is usually a body reflex when it needs to eliminate something toxic from the gut. When you’re not aware that the water you’re consuming is overwhelming your body, it reacts by forcing you to throw up in an attempt to restore balance. This is one of the short term effects of consuming too much water.

When you have too much water in your body, it becomes harder to function properly. The state of being overhydrated can cause you to lose focus and have trouble getting through the day. You won’t be able to be as productive at work or even at school thus affecting your productivity in general. Most people love to follow the trend of carrying water bottles around and drinking water all the time but with this new information, you’ll probably avoid the fad and drink up to what your body needs.

Water toxicity isn’t a joke. Although the cases of death resulting from water toxicity aren’t many, there are still quite a number of cases that have been reported. Our bodies are quite sensitive so adding too much water can actually lead to death in severe cases.

There are many ways to treat this condition depending on the severity.

In mild cases, all one needs to do is to restrict their water intake until everything stabilizes or use stabilizers like electrolyte tablets to restore electrolyte balance.

In more severe instances, patients might have to be rushed to hospital for treatment.

Everything needs to be consumed with moderation and water isn’t an exception. You’ve seen that too much of it is just as dangerous as consuming too little. That’s why doctors always recommend that we take a certain amount a day in order to stay healthy.

For a long time, there has been the standard recommendation of eight glasses per day but this has been challenged over time. For example, should someone with a relatively small body mass drink the same amount of water as someone who is three times their size?

Always drink the recommended amount according to your body specifications and be on the lookout for signs associated with excessive water intake.