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in General Factchecking by
It has been found that drinking "too much" water can actually be just as bad for you or arguably even worse than being dehydrated. Drinking too much water can cause Headaches, Nausea and vommiting, Muscle cramps, and brain fog.Drinking too much water unbalances the kidney and overwhelms to natural process the kidney functions. The sodium content in the human body also needs to be regulated and drinking too much water messes up the amount of sodium within the human body.
by Apprentice (1.2k points)
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Yes, this statement is largely accurate. Drinking excessive amounts of water can indeed have harmful effects on the body, primarily through a condition known as hyponatremia or water intoxication. I also agree with your article choice, very nice.
by Newbie (300 points)
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This is an interesting claim that makes people be careful about how much water they drink. The article provides straight forward information on not drinking too much water as well as potential side effects of drinking too much water. It makes me wonder if people with different medical history experiences the side effects differently.
ago by Newbie (410 points)
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I agree, I've read a lot about how drinking excessive amounts of water can dilute your kidneys. There are certain amounts of water you are allowed to drink. The article provided was good, really puts it out there that drinking too much water can kill you. Good job on this!
ago by Newbie (340 points)
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This statement is accurate, as I've researched the claim and found the same results from multiple sources. In addition, according to Mayo Clinic, "When you drink too much water, your kidneys can't get rid of the excess water. The sodium content of your blood becomes diluted. This is called hyponatremia and it can be life-threatening." It's very interesting how drinking too much water can be arguably worse for you than dehydration, but digging deeper into the reasons for this, it's clear that too much water can be a life changing event.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256#:~:text=When%20you%20drink%20too%20much,it%20can%20be%20life%2Dthreatening.

Finally, I like the source you picked for your claim. It's coming from a reliable hospitality source ending in ".org", which typically provide accurate facts for claims. Overall, good job on this!
ago by Newbie (340 points)
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I think this statement claiming an individual can drink too much water is very accurate for the most part. I think you chose a strong article to back up your claim, for the information comes straight from a hospital. However, in addition I think your claim could have been a bit stronger and more in-depth with more sources integrated. This also would have been helpful in bringing in more information from other credible and scientific sites. I found it helpful when you expanded on the effects that come with consuming too much water, some of which I was unaware of prior to reading the article. I think this claim is unique in the sense that a lot of people are unaware that you can actually drink too much water. Overall, this raises a lot of good points and calls attention to a serious matter if people are not cautious of their water consumption.
ago by Novice (920 points)
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This is a great source, and a claim that is easily fact check-able. Claims based from scientific elements can be a very straightforward place to start to get a confirmed answer. Great claim and great source.
ago by Newbie (490 points)
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This is interesting because while staying hydrated is essential, it’s surprising that drinking too much water can actually disrupt sodium levels and cause serious symptoms like headaches and confusion. It's a reminder that knowing how much to drink and how to balance is very important when it comes to hydration. Great claim.
ago by Newbie (230 points)
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An interesting consideration is how different populations address the needs of hydration. A specific example would be how endurance athletes are at a high risk of overhydration due to consuming a large amount of water in a given period. During the 2002 Boston Marathon, 13% of the runners developed hyponatremia, showing that electrolytes are required rather than just water. The overall perspective of this article by University Hospitals is to bring awareness about one of the lesser-known health hazards, which needs specificity to a greater extent, besides maintaining a much-needed balance in stating the hydration needs of one's body. This indeed points out an important feature, yet it needs more detailed study as to how individuals could obtain the right balance fitted for them.
https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2024/01/can-you-drink-too-much-water

19 Answers

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by Novice (530 points)
Although drinking water and staying hydrated is one of the most crucial things a living organism could do, overhydrating isn’t necessarily a good thing, but it takes a lot. Although the claim is vague, it is ultimately true. According to Dr. Scott in 2022, overhydration with water could cause hypothermia symptoms such as nausea and fatigue which could lead to confusion and possible seizures. He uses a very intriguing example in which a runner during a marathon downs water at every station he sees. Because of this, they lose salt through sweat, and by taking in too much water, “they dilute what sodium is left in their bodies” (Scott 5). Personally, I drink a lot of water, but I don’t drink too much to the point where athletic capabilities are limited or difficult. An individual would need a ridiculous amount of water for these symptoms to occur. Something I have been taught to do is drink half of my body weight in ounces. So, for example, if an individual is 200 pounds, they should drink 100 ounces of water daily. This claim is true when accurate evidence and examples are used.


https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/excessive-hydration.html#:~:text=%22In%20fact%2C%20there's%20a%20significant,of%20sodium%20in%20the%20bloodstream.
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by Novice (570 points)
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The claim “You can drink too much water” is true. It is a reliable source since the article from which this was pulled from, University Hospital the science of health, is a health system based in northeast Ohio that does patient care and research. 

In the UH article it states “Drinking excessive amounts of water can overwhelm your kidneys and dilute the sodium content of your blood.” Hence drinking too much water, over hydration, leads to it being bad for your health. 

In another article by the WebMD explains how you don’t know when you are over hydrating. When you do it your brain cells are the ones that are impacted. It happens through swelling and low sodium levels.

You can see that there are negative effects of drinking too much water.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake

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by Novice (610 points)

The claim "You can drink too much water" is true. According to a page on mayoclinic.org,  drinking too much water can cause your kidneys to fail, allowing the sodium content of your blood to become higher than normal. This can be deadly.

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by Novice (570 points)

The claim “You can drink too much water” is true. It is a reliable source since the article from which this was pulled from, University Hospital The Science of Health, is a health system based in northeast Ohio that does patient care and research. 

In the UH article it states “Drinking excessive amounts of water can overwhelm your kidneys and dilute the sodium content of your blood.” Hence drinking too much water, over hydration, leads to it being bad for your health. 

In another article by the WebMD explains how you don’t know when you are over-hydrating. When you do it your brain cells are the ones that are impacted. It happens through swelling and low sodium levels.

You can see that there are negative effects of drinking too much water.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2024/01/can-you-drink-too-much-water

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by Newbie (400 points)

Yes the claim that you can drink too much water is true. Multiple sources, like the Cleveland Clinic, Healthline, and the Mayo Clinic all have articles and research done about overhydration and its legitimacy. Overhydration or Water Intoxication is a real thing and drinking too much water leads to your kidneys to have too much to filter, and they can't get rid of the excess water. 

"Water intoxication is a condition in which there’s too much water in your body, and it affects your body’s cells. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting and bloating. Severe symptoms may include confusion, seizure and coma. It can also be fatal. Treatment may include reducing your water intake. In severe cases, you may need replacement sodium." (Cleveland Clinic)

"You can become overhydrated in two ways: By drinking too much water or if your kidneys retain too much water. In both cases, overhydration can lead to water toxicity, also known as water poisoning. Your body’s water volume becomes too large for your kidneys to excrete, which can cause the electrolytes in your body to dilute." (Healthline)

"When you drink too much water, your kidneys can't get rid of the excess water. The sodium content of your blood becomes diluted." (Mayo Clinic)

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication

https://www.healthline.com/health/overhydration#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256

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by Newbie (380 points)

The claim that drinking too much water can be harmful is valid. After reviewing the article from University Hospitals and additional reliable sources, I found that excessive water intake can indeed overwhelm the kidneys and dilute sodium levels in the body. This imbalance can lead to a condition known as water intoxication. As explained in the article, this disrupts electrolyte balance, which can result in symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and confusion. Additionally, a study published by the National Kidney Foundation confirms that overhydration, especially  in individuals who drink more than 3 liters of water per hour, can cause the  kidneys to struggle  in  excreting the excess, which leads to dangerously  low sodium levels. This condition is more commonly observed in athletes who drink excessive amounts of water during endurance events but can also affect individuals who consume too much water during periods of stress or illness. In conclusion, the claim is accurate, although it's not a widespread issue for most people. It's important to  be aware of the risks of overhydration, particularly in situations where water intake is extreme or rapid. 

https://www.kidney.org/news-stories/6-tips-to-be-water-wise-healthy-kidneys

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ago by Newbie (440 points)
This is true. Anything can become a poison in the correct dosage. Drinking too much water flushes out the electrolytes and nutrients in your body that you need to properly function. Although it is a high level to reach, you can drink too much water.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication
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ago by Newbie (410 points)

"Can You Drink Too Much Water?" In the article provided, it says that drinking too much water can overwhelm your kidneys and dilute the sodium content of your blood. You should be drinking 8-ounce glasses of water a day.  According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can get water intoxication. Water intoxication is a condition where too much water is in your body, and it affects your body's cells. Symptoms can be nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Severe symptoms can be confusion, seizure, and a coma. Drinking too much water dilutes your. blood and it decreases the electrolytes in your body. I'm not saying that drinking water isn't good for you but there is a certain amount you can drink. If you feel thirsty drink water, especially after exercising or during warm weather. (Water Intoxication, 2024) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication 

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ago by Apprentice (1.0k points)
For the most part, drinking too much water can indeed be unhealthy. The more realistic part of the statement would be that the amount of water it would take to be harmful is gallons in a short period. This amount would not be easy to consume and would be very uncomfortable before it becomes unhealthy. Likely, if one were to drink an unhealthy amount, it would be on purpose.
Exaggerated/ Misleading

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